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MAJOR WARNER A. ROSS 



Mr COLORED 
BATTALION 

BY 

Major Warner A. Ross 

DEDICATED TO THE 

olmerican Colored Soldier 



WARNER A. ROSS, Publisher 

7367 North Clark St. 

CHICAGO 



Hsio 

,55 

:i^7 



(Copyright 1920 by Warner A. Rosa 



mi i 7 \m 



©CU566998 



MY COLORED BATTALION 

You have done me this honor tonight because 
you know that I was the commander of a won- 
derful fighting Infantry BattaHon composed 
entirely (myself excepted) of American col- 
ored officers and colored men. 

You know, too, that for some time, during 
the Great World War, we were in the very 
front lines of that magnificent wave of deter- 
mined Allies in France who held and at last 
swept back the fiendish forces of autocracy 
and tyranny and made it possible for liberty 
loving people to continue their slow but steady 
progress toward true Democracy. 

You would like to hear a great deal about 
that battalion from its white commander be- 
cause you know it was made up of brave men 
and backed by brave women of your own color 
who did their duty by you and by their coun- 
try and did it well. Your presence here and 
the expression on your faces proves that you 
are deeply, hopefully interested in the integrity 
and in the advancement of your race. 

3 



^ MY COLORED BATTALION 

You would like to know something about me 
as a soldier too, I suppose, because you have 
been told I was the best friend the colored sol- 
dier had. I am afraid that word best makes 
it unjustly strong, for the colored soldier has 
many white friends. Nevertheless, I am glad 
I had the privilege and the opportunity to 
prove that my efforts in the common cause, 
the Allies' cause, were not one bit hampered 
or lessened because my officers and men were 
colored. 

One thing is certain, there was no doubt 
about the Americanism of my outfit, no ques- 
tion of hyphens, no fear that their love for or 
their hatred of some other nation exceeded 
their love for our own. The devotion, the pa- 
triotism, the loyalty of the American Negro 
is beyond question. My only claim is that I 
treated him justly — that's all he needs or asks. 

The Second Battalion of the Three Hundred 
and Sixty-fifth United States Infantry (the 
battalion we are considering) was a remark- 
able organization, in many ways, in spite of 
many things, a wonderful organization. In 



MY COLORED BATTALION 5 

the battle line and out of the battle line, before 
the armistice and after the armistice, there was 
not a phase of military art or of the awful 
game of war at which this battalion did not 
excel. At going over the top, attackhig enemy 
positions, resisting raids and assaults, holding 
under heavy shell fire, enduring gas of all 
kinds, at patrolling no-man's land, at drill, on 
hard marches, in discipline and military cour- 
tesy, at conducting itself properly in camp or 
in French villages, and in general all around 
snappiness, it excelled in all. 

Much of this could be seen by going over 
the battalion and regimental records. But the 
greatest thing about that battalion is not a 
matter of direct record in the written data and 
reports. It is a matter of undying record in 
the minds and hearts of the men who were that 
battalion. I speak of the magnificant morale, 
their mutual pride, their teamwork, their spirit 
of earnest, cheerful willingness and their un- 
surpassed endurance and bravery in the per- 
formance of duty. 

It will seem strange to most of you, almost 
impossible to many who saw service in other 



6 MY COLORED BATTALION 

outfits, when I tell you that during my entire 
service with the Three Hundred and Sixty- 
fifth Infantry, which I began as a Captain in 
December, 1917, and ended as a battalion com- 
mander when the regiment was broken up at 
Camp Upton, New York, in March, 1919, not 
one colored officer under my command was ever 
placed under arrest, and not one colored officer 
was ever threatened with an efficiency board. 
And during the many trying months that I 
commanded the Second Battalion, both in and 
out of the front lines, only two enlisted men 
were tried by me as summary court — and they 
were acquitted. 

The same is true of the nine hundred officers 
and men from all units of the regiment who 
live in or near Chicago that I brought from 
Camp Upton to be mustered out of service at 
Camp Grant. Those of you who were in Chi- 
cago remember how proudly the Camp Grant 
Detachment of the Three Hundred and Sixty- 
fifth Infantry paraded through the streets on 
March 10th, 1919, without a hitch or a single 
breach of discipline. 

No doubt that is hard to believe, for it does 



MY COLORED BATTALION 7 

upset a host of time honored theories and teach- 
ings and honest convictions about military dis- 
cipline and efficiency, but the facts as stated 
can be verified. Members of that Battalion 
and Regiment are right among you. Ask them. 
These were by no means specially selected or 
picked outfits. The officers and men were of 
all kinds, all conditions, mostly draft men and 
from all sections of the United States. They 
were representative of their race as a whole, 
yet in every instance a little company or mili- 
tary police discipline or, in rare cases, a short 
conference with the captain or major did the 
work. Considering the excellent service ren- 
dered by the units in question and especially 
by the Second Battalion of that Regiment, I 
regard this as a great tribute to our American 
Colored Soldiers. There is much, very much 
that is worthy of serious consideration about 
the discipline, the efficiency and the morale of 
that organization. 

And now at the outset, before I go any fur- 
ther with this lecture, I wish to tell you, my 
colored friends, that I am proud to have been 
the commander of that battalion. My talk nee- 



8 MY COLORED BATTALION 

essarily will be mostly about that Battalion, 
for I commanded it during the Regiment's 
experience in the battle lines and during the 
greater part of my service with the Division. 
And now more than ever I believe, as I had 
ample reason to believe then, that no battalion 
of any army whether white or black or of some 
other race or color could have done the same 
things and done them any better than did the 
Second Battalion of the Three Hundred and 
Sixty-fifth Infantry, One Hundred and 
Eighty-third Brigade, Ninety-second Division 
of the United States Army in France. 

It may interest you to know, especially after 
what I have said about methods of securing 
discipline — for results count — that I won my 
commission as a major and what was far more, 
my job as a front line infantry battalion com- 
mander for efficiency under fire. I have a few 
citations and letters and one signed testimonial 
by white and colored officers who were wit- 
nesses, for coolness, bravery and the like. 
Thirty-five or forty officers and men were 
cited for bravery in Division orders. Medals? 
No, I have received no medals or special dec- 



MY COLORED BATTALION 9 

orations. Nor has any living member, officer 
or man, of my Battalion. In fact, to my 
knowledge, not one living officer or man of 
the entire Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth In- 
fantry has received any decoration or medal 
of any sort whatever — American, French, Bel- 
gian or any other kind. This, on the face of it, 
to anyone who knows the facts, would seem 
either a most glaring injustice or mistake. 

Many of the members of my Battalion and 
of the Regiment, especially those who were 
with us at the time of the armistice and during 
all or part of the awful days and weeks just 
preceding it, feel and resent this most keenly. 
In the army you know everything must go 
through "military channels" — from company 
to battalion to regiment to brigade to division 
and on up. I recommended some of my officers 
and men for decorations. And if I know any- 
thing about meritorious conduct, real achieve- 
ment, bravery, valour and the like, they richly 
deserved them. These recommendations 
reached brigade headquarters. It is my opin-/ 
ion that certain regular army officers saw fit to 
head them off. 



10 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Soon after the armistice we had a succession 
of strange regimental commanders, who showed 
no interest in pressing our case and so because 
of a combination of unfortunate circumstances 
the Regiment is medal-less. I understand our 
Brigade has received some recognition. I do 
not begrudge any officer or man his medal or 
medals if he actually earned them, but I do 
regret it that my Regiment and my own Bat- 
talion could be thus ignored. You may believe 
it or not when I say that I care nothing about 
medals for myself. What little I did in the 
cause of Democracy — ^by that I mean what I 
did for my Colored Battalion as well as in try- 
ing to help whip the enemy — is a matter with 
me and my own better self. 

The citations of which I am incomparablj'' 
more proud than of the citations I did get or the 
medals I didn't get were not printed with ink 
nor stamped on metal. They were written with 
a point of fire into the brave, true hearts of 
my colored soldiers. 

And who knows (if I may indulge in a little 
sentiment) ? Who can tell? Perhaps those who 
bravely endured the tourtures of hell, because 



MY COLORED BATTALION 11 

of the foolishness of vain oppressors in this 
wicked world and who uncomplainingly and un- 
selfishly gave all they had, all any one could 
give — gave their lives — in defense of our great 
nation and in the cause of Democracy. Per- 
haps, I say, some of the spirits of that Bat- 
talion's dead have already whispered in the 
glorious Realm beyond where the great, all- 
powerful God of justice, of love, of peace reigns 
supreme and with Whom man's character is the 
only thing that counts. Perhaps they have 
whispered or will whisper, "Our Commander 
not only braved the fury of the Hun, but he 
scorned the petty prejudices of a few white 
persons and treated us like officers and men." 

Officers designated for service with the 
Eighty-sixth Division, which was to be formed 
at Camp Grant, Illinois, were ordered to report 
for duty August, 28th, 1917. I so reported 
and was assigned to the Three Hundred and 
Forty-first Infantry. Being a captain I was 
selected to command "G" Company. I re- 
ceived my quota of the first drafted men to 
arrive, on the second of September. They 



12 MY COLORED BATTALION 

continued to arrive and in a few weeks I had 
two hundred and ninety-two men in addition to 
my five training camp Heutenants. The new 
organization had just gone into effect. Arms 
and equipment arrived slowly. There was more 
or less confusion ; no one was right sure what to 
do and a company commander had a real job 
on his hands. Day and night I labored — 
drilled, studied, taught, did paper work, and 
then after three months or a little over, just 
when I was beginning to pride myself, like all 
the other captains, on having the best company 
in the regiment, and when we were all seeing 
visions of entraining for France, they began 
transferring our men — thirty or forty from a 
company at a time — to other divisions, and our 
hearts sank. 

I tried to get transferred myself, for like 
many others, I wanted to soldier in France, not 
at Camp Grant. Company commanders were 
not being transferred to other camps, but just 
before Christmas I was ordered to report to the 
One Hundred and Eighty-third Brigade, a 
part of which was attached at Camp Grant. 
I was then assigned to the Three Hundred and 



MY COLORED BATTALION 13 

Sixty-fifth Infantry, a regiment of that Bri- 
gade and of the Ninety-second Division (col- 
ored) . I felt sure that the Ninety-second Di- 
vision, since it was the only complete colored 
division, and there was not much danger of its 
men being transferred, would go to France 
long before the Eighty-sixth — and it did. 

For a time I was with the supply company. 
Then I was transferred to the headquarters 
company, a rather uncertain and complicated 
organization in those days, with an authorized 
strength of seven officers and three hundred 
and fifteen men. I remained with that com- 
pany until after our arrival in France. 

In the infantry regiments of the Ninety-sec- 
ond Division the lieutenants and captains were 
colored with the exception of the regimental 
staff captains and the captains of the head- 
quarters and supply companies. The majors 
commanding the battalions and the lieutenant- 
colonel and the colonel were old regular army 
white officers. 

We had been in training in France but a 
short time when I was made regimental intelli- 
gence and operations officer. Here again was 



14 MY COLORED BATTALION 

another phase of the actual war game to learn. 
I was in charge of a large number of selected 
and specially trained men who made up the 
intelligence and scout sections, and at the same 
time was the regimental commander's assistant 
in preparing our own movements and opera- 
tions. I had direct charge of all that had to do 
with our knowledge and information of the 
enemy. I was also a member of the highest 
division court-martial — the one that had power 
to inflict the death penalty. 

I received orders to take the battalion intelli- 
gence and scout oflicers and part of the intel- 
ligence and scout personnel into the line sev- 
eral weeks ahead of the Division's final arrival 
there, to study and learn the sub-sector our 
regiment was later to occupy. I was never sent 
away to schools or on special missions and was 
never on leave or in hospital but was on duty 
with fighting troops continuously. 

I have mentioned these things to show you 
that I had had a large and varied experience 
under the new army organization and in the 
new methods of fighting that had developed 
during the Great War. It was just the sort of 



MY COLORED BATTALION 15 

training and experience to fit one for the hard 
and responsible task of commanding an infan- 
try battalion in the front lines. I had been in 
direct command of both white and colored offi- 
cers and men. I knew the colored enhsted man. 
And I knew the recently-made colored officers 
as well, fully as well, as did any white officer 
in our army. 

As I just said, I was sent into the lines ahead 
of the Regiment to study the sector, learn about 
the enemy opposite and about conditions in 
general. When we arrived within hearing of 
the big guns and a little later when our trucks 
came within range just north of St. Die, I 
was all interest and all attention, for at last I 
was getting into the sort of place I had been 
reading and thinking and wondering about 
since 1914, and had been working and training 
for every minute since I entered the training 
camp at Fort Sheridan, May 10th, 1917. It's 
hard work getting ready to be killed in a mod- 
ern war. 

The Regular Army Fifth Division, already 
experienced in the line, was then holding this 
sector. For several days I was busy at regi- 



16 MY COLORED BATTALION 

mental headquarters located in what was left 
of the village of Denipere. Then with the as- 
sistance of guides, I started out to thoroughly 
cover and learn the sector. This was by no 
means a small task: it meant many miles of 
walking and hard climbing for many days, to 
say nothing of thrills and mental exercise. Our 
boys had turned a quiet sector into a very 
lively one and a few days before the Fifth Di- 
vision moved out they reduced and were partly 
successful in holding the Chapelle salient. 
Taken all in all it was somewhat exciting for 
a novice exploring the very first lines. 

There were three battalion fronts or sectors 
in the front our regiment was to occupy. Each 
of the three battalions had two companies in 
front, one in support and one in reserve. The 
companies were shifted every nine or ten days. 
French artillery would be behind us. Ours was 
in training near Bordeaux. The center bat- 
talion sector was called C. R. Fontinelle. I 
soon learned that it got most of the enemy's 
fire and raids because of the nature of the 
terrain, meaning lay of the land. This would 
be held by our Second Battalion, but I 



MY COLORED BATTALION 17 

had little idea then that I would soon com- 
mand it. 

The entire front in France was divided into 
battalion sectors or centers of resistance, called 
C. R.'s. The battalion was the infantry fight- 
ing unit in this war. When in the line, it had 
everything attached to it to make it a complete 
organization in itself — machine gun companies, 
engineer troops, one pounder and Stokes mor- 
tar outfits, supply equipment, medical person- 
nel and so on. Regimental and brigade fronts 
varied in size and in the way they were held. 
Often a regiment had but one battalion in front, 
sometimes two and rarely three, as in our por- 
tion of the St. Die sector. 

There were three lines or systems of defense 
in this sector. First, the front or first line sys- 
tem of works and trenches, combat groups, 
dugouts, communicating ways, machine gun 
implacements, trench mortars, wire and, well, 
it would take a long time to even name them all. 
An entire evening easily could be spent telling 
about any one little phase of the thing. From 
two to three miles farther back in this sec- 
tor was the secondary hues or system with 



18 MY COLORED BATTALION 

trenches, wire and everything, all ready for 
occupancy. A little to the rear was most of the 
light artillery. Several miles farther back was 
the third line system and the heavy artillery. 
The front line system was most interesting and 
by far the most dangerous. There was this 
about it, too: In case of enemy attack they 
held. In other words, their occupants stayed 
and fought to the last man. Those were stand- 
ing orders and at that time in my eyes it added 
a sort of awful fascination to the front line 
trenches and men. 

One of the things that impressed me during 
my first days in the line was the extent, the 
magnitude of the works, the prodigious amount 
of labor that had been required to excavate and 
build these positions while under fire, the cut- 
ting and tunneling in many places through solid 
rock, also the military knowledge that had been 
brought to bear in the locating and construc- 
tion of combat groups, observation posts, fields 
of fire and the hke and the amount of system 
and pluck and energy required to hold them. 
But one awful, ugly, discouraging word, from 
a world standpoint, seemed written all over the 



MY COLORED BATTALION 19 

enterprise— Waste— waste of life, waste of 
time, waste of governments' money, waste of 
all those things misguided humanity loves and 
fights for. What a shocking, what a saddening 
lesson from the standpoint of waste alone! 

Then as I became accustomed and somewhat 
hardened to the idea of appalling and foolish 
waste, another thing began to appeal to me 
more strongly. The beauty of the scenery and 
the invigorating air and sunshine of the moun- 
tains. It was summer, radiant, glowing, glori- 
ous summer. All nature vibrating and tingling 
with life and kindness. The sky so bright, the 
air so crisp, so bracing; the trees so green and 
fresh. The flowers, the grass, even the weeds 
and the very moss on the rocks seemed charged 
and melodious with joy. 

Little rivulets, cold and sparkhng, leaped 
over great boulders through shaded ravines 
and joined the hilarious stream away below 
which farther on, where the big ravine had 
widened, calmly wound its way amid the ruins 
of the quaint village called Denipere and out 
through the wide valley beyond. And what a 
panorama that valley was from the road on a 



20 MY COLORED BATTALION 

mountainside north of the town, especially at 
evening with the parting kiss of a great red 
sun glowing on the winding river between its 
green banks and its clumps of willows, and glis- 
tening on the tile roofs of the remaining white 
stone houses, the various colored fields and the 
patches of w^ood, the white roads and their 
rows of tall trees, the hills and shaded depres- 
sions, and the gorgeous background of moun- 
tains in the distance. It looked different each 
time I viewed it, but always there was the 
peaceful glow and glory of God's handiwork. 
Here, indeed, was La Belle France. 

Many a time, at first, I used to forget my- 
self, lost in buoyant meditation, as I gazed 
over that enchanting valley or walked along 
the stately mountain roads enveloped in dense 
foliage, or as I traveled down some secluded 
pathway or lover's lane beside a rippling brook, 
inhaling deeply the pungent odor of growing 
things and cool damp earth. Then, with a 
start, I would come back to the realization that 
those screaming shells, those metallic cracks, 
those weird, jarring blasts were meant to 
mangle and hill! That an enemy bent on de- 



MY COLORED BATTALION 21 

struction was only a mile or so away; that 
those ghttering airplanes buzzing high above 
were on missions of hate and murder; that 
those little mounds I saw everywhere with 
wooden crosses at one end were the graves of 
fine young men who had been mangled and 
slain by their fellow beings. All the surround- 
ings so inspiring, so beautiful; all nature so 
smiling and so harmonious, and poor, deluded, 
vain man so out of harmony. Somewhere, 
somehow, something was wrong — terribly, 
damnably wrong. 

Then down in the very front lines in the 
edge of the "abomination of desolation" called 
no-man's land, I watched those fine young men 
of our Fifth Division, standing silently by their 
automatics or rifles, gazing with ashen faces 
and staring eyes over that torn dreaded ex- 
panse that separated them from a cunning and 
deadly foe, and gradually my feelings changed 
from happiness due to health, the mountain air 
and the charms of nature, to feelings of depres- 
sion and sadness, and hatred toward those who 
advocate and perpetuate in their blind vanity 
and self-righteous greed those principles and 



22 MY COLORED BATTALION 

policies that lead to strife, to heart-ache and to 
war. 

Here, accentuated by the glories of nature, 
was the horror of war and the awful proof of 
the degradation of humanity — despite its so- 
called Christian civilization. 

Graves and danger and death. Death over 
head, death under foot, death in every direction 
— suffering, loneliness, longing, agony, death — 
Death! But the greedy fiends really responsi- 
ble were not there. And a sort of awe came 
over me and a feeling of tender pity for those 
brave, unselfish men, mere boys, many of them, 
standing silently, majestically — facing death 
in those front line trenches. 

Time passed quickly, for like all officers of 
our army who entered the lines, regardless of 
previous training, I had very much to learn. 
There was so much to wonder and think about, 
too, for my job took me to all parts of our 
sector and necessitated a careful study of the 
enemy. For example, I had soon noticed that 
the men of units occupying the most dangerous 
positions and suffering the greatest inconveni- 
ence and strain seemed most care free and calm. 



MY COLORED BATTALION 23 

There was an expression on their faces, an at- 
mosphere about them that had not been there 
during the training period behind the lines. 
This opened great fields for thought, and I'm 
still thinking. 

Then one day, before I realized that it was 
time, I saw little groups of blue-clad soldiers — 
the soldiers of France, standing about in Deni- 
pere, and on the roads I saw more little groups ; 
next day there were more, and the following 
morning, as though it had happened by magic, 
I found the entire position, front lines and all, 
occupied and held by those quiet, tired-faced, 
sturdy heroes of France. The boys of our 
Fifth Division had moved out during the night. 
The following night my regiment moved in. 
The French infantry left several days later 
when we had become established in our position. 
A short time after that I was placed in com- 
mand of our Second Battalion, holding the cen- 
ter sector called C. R. Fontinelle. 

The day I took command the enemy put over 
one of his famous raids. For two and one-half 
hours he laid a heavy concentrated fire on the 



24 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Second Battalion's front line system, then 
changed it into an almost perfect box barrage 
around the two front companies and jumped us 
through our left flank. The raiding was done 
by one of their notorious, specially-trained 
shock battalions sent to the sector for that pur- 
pose. By excellent work on the part of the two 
front companies and the support company as- 
sisted by a company of engineers, they were 
soon driven out. They managed to drag most 
of their dead and wounded with them, but left 
considerable equipment including several ma- 
chine guns they had brought over and set up in 
our trenches. 

It would take all evening to tell about that 
one action, or Fontinelle Raid, alone. There 
is so much I could tell you about my Battalion, 
funny things, as well as serious, to say nothing 
of our Division or the French soldiers and 
people and what not, that I hardly know what 
to tell. 

But I do know we haven't much time so I 
think we'll make a long jump, skipping things 
equally interesting, the bombardments, the pa- 
trols, the raids, the experiences and trials at 



MY COLORED BATTALION 25 

Fontinelle, then the nard marches, the sleep- 
less, shelterless nights in cold rain and mud, the 
hardships of the Argonne and our part during 
the early days of that famous American drive, 
our tiresome movement from that front and our 
taking over from the French on the night of 
October 6th and 7th of C. R. Musson, an im- 
portant section of the INIarbache sector's front, 
on the east bank of the Moselle River just south 
and a little west of Metz. 

I'll pass over the many interesting and try- 
ing happenings and experiences of the thirty- 
one straight days — intense, nei^ve-racking days 
and nights that we occupied that position, and 
take it up a few days before the armistice, or 
just before the preliminary to the long-talked 
of drive for Metz. I'll only have time to tell 
you briefly of a small part of that, but perhaps 
you may gain some faint realization of how the 
boys fought and suffered and won. 

First, just a few words to show you the way 
in which the Ninety-second Division had taken 
over and held the Marbace sector. At three 
o'clock on the morning of October 6th, after 
marching all night, the Second Battalion of the 



20 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infantry ar- 
rived at Aton, a village about three miles be- 
hind the front lines. All that day I spent at 
the front with the commander of the French 
battalion then holding the C. R. During the 
afternoon my officers and part of the non-coms, 
came up and went over the positions assigned 
them. That night we stealthily moved in and 
the French moved out. 

This was a key position. Through it, vary- 
ing from two to five hundred yards from the 
bank of the river, ran what was known as the 
Great Metz Road. We held a front of about a 
mile and a half. I wish I had a big map or a 
blackboard and time to show you. I can see it 
all now as plainly as if I were there. Across 
the Moselle adjoining us on our left at that 
time was a white division. About tw0 weeks 
before the armistice the C. R. next to us and 
adjoining the river, was taken over and oc- 
cupied by a battalion of the Three Hundred 
and Sixty-seventh Infantry of our Division. 
The C. R. on our right was taken over the night 
following our arrival by the First Battalion of 
our Regiment. The First and Third Battalions 



MY COLORED BATTALION 27 

took turns holding that C. R. The Three hun- 
dred and Sixty-sixth Infantry kept one bat- 
tahon in hne on their right. Adjoining it were 
the French. Our own division artillery got 
into position behind us only a few days before 
the end. At first our Division had three bat- 
talions, and during the last two weeks, four 
battalions in the front line. We held a front 
line section several times as long as did any 
other battalion of the Division, in the Marbache 
sector. Thirty-one straight days was a long, 
hard stretch for a battalion in an important and 
far from quiet front or first line position. 

Finally, on the night of November 6th-7th 
we were at last moved back about five miles to 
the second line of defense. The officers and 
men were almost completely worn out, many of 
them bordering on nervous collapse. But even 
now the Battalion was to get no rest. On the 
7th, in compliance with orders from the Com- 
manding General, we put over an operation in 
which "H" Company and half of "E" went 
over the top, and on the 8th I was up in front 
again on very short notice in command of a 
daylight contact patrol in which I used all of 



28 MY COLORED BATTALION 

"F" Company, half of "G" and part of the 
regimental machine gun company. 

So during those two days in the second Une, 
instead of resting, almost the entire Battalion 
had been all the way back up to the front, over 
the top, and back again. These were small but 
extremely trying — tired as we were — and also 
rather costly operations. I say small — I mean 
comparatively small as to the numbers of offi- 
cers and men engaged, but to the individual 
engaged they were large, quite large. A num- 
ber were killed and many wounded, including 
two captains, Mills, commanding "F" Com- 
pany, and Cranson, commander of "G." 

This Battalion had caught most of the hell 
in the St. Die sector, had done its full share 
in the Argonne, though, due to the fortunes of 
war, I suppose, little if any mention is made 
of it, and in the Marbache sector had held the 
most important C. R. continuously up to the 
night of the 6th and 7th, and after the opera- 
tions of the 7th and 8th just mentioned, you 
can judge what condition my outfit was in on 
the morning of November 9th. 

Nevertheless, on the morning of November 



MY COLORED BATTALION 29 

9th, I received word that the Commanding 
General had just arrived at Regimental Head- 
quarters in Loisey and wished to see me at once. 
So, dog-tired, aching all over and dead for 
sleep, I got into a sidecar and wxnt back. Just 
as I expected, he handed me an order. Brigade 
order, that had been sanctioned by Division 
Headquarters, G. H. Q., and the High Allied 
Command covering our Brigade's part in the 
inauguration or preliminary to the Metz drive. 
It started something like this: "Major War- 
ner A. Ross, commanding the Second Bat- 
tahon. Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infan- 
try, will at five o'clock on the morning of No- 
vember 10th, attack enemy positions — named 
them — to the east of the Moselle River, will 
advance to the northern edge of Bois Frehaut 
and to such and such a point on the river bank 
and hold until further orders," etc. That even- 
ing I received a similar order, changed some- 
what from the first one, but what it all meant 
was that it was up to us — the Battalion — to 
capture and above all to hold this strong key 
position just up the river from Metz. 

In so far as we were concerned it was a 



so MY COLORED BATTALION 

frontal attack on the general position of Metz. 
How far the Allies intended or expected to 
drive straight on toward Metz I do not know. 
The long advance was to be southeast of us with 
the idea of eventually isolating Metz. Judg- 
ing by what happened to us and to the attack- 
ers on our flanks during the tenth and eleventh, 
it would have been foolish, if not impossible, 
to advance further along the Moselle. That is 
why the capturing and holding of Bois Frehaut 
was especially glorious. 

The generals commanding our Division and 
Brigade seemed very anxious that this opera- 
tion prove a success. Up to this time the Divi- 
sion had not accomplished anything very start- 
ling in the way of capturing German strong- 
holds, but here, before the expected armistice 
went into effect, was an opportunity to prove 
the Division's ability and worth and refute any 
whisperings that might be in the air. In other 
words, to quote one of my high ranking su- 
periors, full and real success here would for- 
ever give the division a leg to stand on. 

Mine, then, was the honor of being in direct 
command of the main operation which started 



MY COLORED BATTALION 31 

the long discussed Allied move to capture Metz, 
said to be the most impregnable German 
stronghold. Mine, too, was the opportunity to 
give a colored battalion a chance to prove its 
worth beyond all peradventure, to help them 
disprove the widely circulated report that col- 
ored troops could not advance and hold under 
real and prolonged heavy fire, to help them 
dispel the impression so many had that colored 
officers — platoon leaders and company com- 
manders — could not successfully handle colored 
soldiers. In short, to give them a chance to 
win a victory that will stand out more clearly 
as the years go by, a victory requiring all the 
virtues that soldiers, individually and collec- 
tively should possess — a victory clear cut, un- 
aided, complete and unquestionable, where 
others had failed and against a stronghold, a 
part of and guarding a strategic position that 
at all hazards the enemy meant to hold. 

The Second Battalion of the Three Hun- 
dred and Sixty-fifth Infantry was chosen, de- 
spite its long and continuous work in the front 
lines, its greatly depleted ranks and shortness 
of officers. Reinforced by other units, other 



82 MY COLORED BATTALION 

men and other officers of the Three Hundred 
and Sixty-fifth Infantry, the Second Battalion 
at last met its supreme test — its golden oppor- 
tunity. I shall try briefly to tell you what it 
did. for "Bois Frehaut," under the guns of 
Metz, will remain a memorial to the discipline, 
the efficiency, the bravery, and devotion to duty 
of an American colored battalion. 

The Three Hundred and Sixty-seventh In- 
fantry, as previously mentioned, had recently 
taken over one battalion sector or C. R. just 
across the river. They, too, had orders to ad- 
vance. A battalion of the white division on 
their left also was to advance. On our right a 
small part of a battalion (to be exact, two pla- 
toons — about half of one company) of the 
Three Hundred and Sixty-sixth Infantry was 
to advance through our Third Battalion, then 
occupying that C. R. 

I may as well tell you, what many people 
know, that although this was the beginning of 
the great Allied movement to reduce the strate- 
gic stronghold of Metz, with divison after di- 
vision massing behind us and to our right, the 
battalion of the white division to the left of the 



MY COLORED BATTALION 33 

Three Hundred and Sixty-seventh rushed 
ahead at zero hour on the morning of the 10th, 
lost one hundred and fifty-six men in less than 
five minutes and withdrew to their trenches. 
The attack battalion of the Three Sixty-seventh 
sized up the situation and barely left their 
trenches so withering was the fire. 

The troops of a part of a battalion of the 
Three Hundred and Sixty-sixth on our right 
rushed out to take a small wood that laid east 
of the positions we were to take, got almost 
to their objectives and rushed back owing to 
the accuracy and intensity of enemy fire. But 
it didn't matter much outside of leaving my 
battalion's right flank entirely wide open, for 
Bois de la tete d'Or and Bois Frehaut of our 
position far outflanked it and made it unten- 
able for the Germans. A map of the positions 
involved tells the story. I tell you this not to 
discredit or belittle units on our right and left, 
but to prove that what the Second Battalion 
of the Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infan- 
try there accomplished was far from easy and 
that when it came to defending Metz the 
enemy was decidedly on the job. 



34 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Bois Frehaut is a hilly, dense wood about 
five hundred yards east of the Moselle River, 
rising from low, flat, boggy land. This low 
ground extends around and eastward south of 
the wood, between it and the northern edge 
of East Pont-a-Musson, in the form of a 
broad swale gradually narrowing and rising 
from a point south of the center of the wood. 
This broad swale was no-man's land. Behind 
Bois Frehaut to the north enemy ground con- 
tinued to rise, culminating in a very high hill 
or mountain overlooking the wood, no-man's 
land, Pont-a-Musson and the entire country 
for miles around. Near its summit was an 
exceptionally fine observation post, reached by 
a long tunnel. 

In speaking of the action of Bois Frehaut 
or the capture of Bois Frehaut the places called 
Belle Aire Farm, Bois de la Tete d'Or and 
Ferme de Pence are included. They are parts 
of and join Bois Frehaut. This position was a 
separate and distinct place entirely surrounded 
by clear ground and most ideally situated for 
the enemy for defense purposes. My knowl- 
edge of what was done by units on our right 



MY COLORED BATTALION 35 

and left was gained during the action through 
my efforts to keep in touch with and to estab- 
Hsh liaison with those units on our flanks. 

On three separate occasions during the pre- 
ceding four months Allied troops had at- 
tempted to capture this Bois Frehaut. Once 
a French outfit, after considerable artillery 
preparation, got into the edge of it by a turn- 
ing movement and stayed about ten minutes. 
Later French Senegalese troops penetrated 
its east flank a short distance and stayed less 
than one hour. At the time American troops 
reduced the St. Mihiel Salient they made a 
frontal attack on Bois Frehaut and Ferme de 
Belle Aire, an outpost position in front of and 
about half as wide as the wood proper. This 
advance or pinch was supposed to start east 
of Bois Frehaut and take it with the big salient, 
but it had to pivot on Bois Frehaut instead of 
straightening the line from Momeny, for this 
was near Metz and one of the strong outlying 
centers defending it, so the attackers never got 
through the outside systems of wire. As a re- 
sult of this the Allied first line on the west side 
of the river was several kilometers in advance 



36 MY COLORED BATTALION 

of our line on the east bank before we took 
Bois Frehaut and straightened it. I remem- 
l^er that as we went through the Ferme de Belle 
Aire wire I counted twenty-six American bod- 
ies or parts of bodies in one small section. They 
had been lying or hanging there since about 
September 13th. 

Such, then, was the position the Second Bat- 
talion of the Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth 
Infantry^ short two captains and nine lieuten- 
ants, its ranks badly thinned and the whole 
outfit dead tired, was ordered to capture and 
to hold. This was the morning of the ninth, 
the companies were widely separated, we were 
almost five miles behind our front line and we 
were to attack at five o'clock the next morning. 

There was not a minute to lose. Early in the 
afternoon we were up in East Pont-a-Musson. 
We would spend the night completing our 
preparations there. Our first lines at the point 
where I had decided to leave them were just 
north of the edge of the town. From there, 
for several kilometers, they ran in a north- 
easterly direction, but my orders called for a 
head-on attack along the entire enemy front. 



MY COLORED BATTALION 37 

Prospective casualties for us seemed not to 
concern those of my superiors and their assist- 
ants who had laid down the general outline for 
this affair and for several previous affairs. I 
haven't time here to go into details as to that 
statement, but I assure you I am not telling 
anything imaginative or that I can not sub- 
stantiate. I am saying little or nothing of any 
battalion or organization other than my own. 
What I say of it and things pertaining to it 
are not meant to apply to anything else. They 
are the result of personal knowledge and ex- 
perience. 

The commanding General had wished me 
luck and departed. The Lieutenant Colonel 
practically had put the regiment at my dis- 
posal and gone to Loisey. The whole thing 
was now up to us. There were a thousand 
things to think of and do and very httle time 
in which to do them. I called the officers to- 
gether and gave instructions about equipment 
of all sorts — ammunition, gas masks, sag paste, 
rations — ^things that had to be sent back for, 
and so on. 

I sent for certain units of the Headquarters 



88 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Company, and annexed a part of the officers 
and men of the First Battahon. By the way, 
its Major had been killed by the Germans a 
few days before. I also sent for the Regimental 
Machine Gun Company, for I had a foreboding 
that the company of the Brigade Machine Gun 
Battalion designated to report to me in the 
orders would not arrive in time. So I played 
safe. Then I spent about two hours inspecting 
and watching the preparations go forward. At 
six P. M. I sat down to study in detail and 
to systematize our plan of attack. Eveiything 
must be thought out and arranged in advance. 
All contingencies must, if possible, be foreseen 
and provided for The foe we were going 
against was Wghly organized and knew his 
position. He was experienced, efficient and 
crafty in the art of war. 

Promptly at eight-thirty, as ordered, the 
officers assembled at the house we were using 
as temporary Battalion Headquarters. The 
company from the Machine Gun Battalion had 
not arrived and for what we were about to un- 
dertake, machine guns were important. So I 
called Captain Allen and his lieutenants of our 



MY COLORED BATTALION 39 

Regimental Machine Gun Company into the 
conference. Had the other company arrived, 
Captain Allen of the company I had sent for 
on my own initiative, probably would not now 
be lying buried in France. So works fate, as 
some call it. It's a sad thing to have to order 
officers and men on missions of almost certain 
death, especially when they are so willing, even 
anxious to go, and when you know them as well 
as I knew mine, but such is war. 

For hours in a dimly candle-lighted room we 
worked. Studied charts and blue prints, 
planned each move of each detachment and 
platoon in detail. Company and platoon com- 
manders laid their courses, drew maps and 
studied them carefully, for they would have to 
travel independently and bj^ compass after 
entering enemy wire. We carefully rehearsed 
our plans of liaison. In short, every detail was 
gone over; all emergencies we could conceive 
of were discussed, so that each captain and 
each platoon leader (some were non-coms.) 
knew his part and its relation to the whole. 
Each one explained aloud just what he was to 
do and when and how, and how such and such 



40 MY COLORED BATTALION 

developments were to affect his actions. For 
you must know that nothing but well-nigh 
faultless team work would enable us to accom- 
plish our mission. 

To capture and to hold this strong and seem- 
ingly impregnable key position under the big 
guns of the world renowned fortress of Metz, 
to say nothing of its other means of defense, 
with but one battalion and but five minutes' 
artillery preparation, did not mean to rush out 
with a whoop and sweep all before us. It re- 
quired a thorough, practical knowledge gained 
by experience of all the complicated phases of 
trench and open warfare. It required officers 
and non-commissioned officers of iron nerve 
and cool judgment under fire, and brave troops 
of exceptional discipline and the finest training. 
Whether those higher up expected us to suc- 
ceed or could have expected any battalion to 
succeed, I doubted. So I had made up my 
mind we would succeed. 

At one thirty-five A. M. I received word by 
telephone from the Brigade Adjutant that 
Zero hour would be seven o'clock instead of 
five. At three A. M. I said, "I'm going to lead 



MY COLORED BATTALION 41 

you over and into that place. I'll be with you 
and I'm going to stick. I'll never come back 
except on orders from proper authority unless 
carried back unconscious or dead. This meet- 
ing is adjourned." For fully a minute they re- 
mained perfectly still — not one moved. Then 
one at a time they got up, shook my hand and 
filed out into the cold and darkness — ^the vast, 
ominous outdoors. And I knew then by the 
look on each leader's face that we would be 
annihilated or win. 

They roused their men, for they had been 
ordered to get what rest they could, and there 
in the chill and dead of night, explained to 
them just what was to be done; explained each 
man's part, for each man has a part in a job 
like that. Certain things had arrived during 
the night. These were distributed, final inspec- 
tions were made and by five o'clock all was in 
readiness for the start. The four companies 
of infantry, "H," "G," "E" and "F," the Regi- 
mental Machine Gun Company, the One- 
Pounder and Stokes Mortar Platoons, the 
Pioneer Platoon and Signal outfits from the 
Headquarters Company, the specialty detach- 



42 MY COLORED BATTALION 

ments from Division Headquarters, the Doc- 
tors and Stretcher Bearers — all were there 
lined up in battalion front, at increased inter- 
vals, along the great Metz road. 

For a moment I paused, feeling or sensing, 
as it were, my Battalion, for I could see only 
the shadowy forms of a few who were nearest. 
I wondered if those at home knew or could 
have any realization of what these men were 
doing and suffering for them. All through 
that awful night I had heard not one word of 
complaint. Not a grumble had reached my 
ears, and I smiled as I remembered the many 
times before, even away back in the Argonne 
or St. Die (it seemed ages ago then), how, 
when I had approached within hearing of dis- 
consolate looking groups of men, shivering all 
night long, perhaps in deep mud and cold rain, 
because of mistakes higher up or for unavoid- 
able causes, some old fellow in the group had 
started to sing or said some silly thing intended 
to be funny and how all the others had laughed 
— for my benefit. And these were the men I 
was about to lead out there where it looked to 
all of us like sure annihilation. These were the 



MY COLORED BATTALION 43 

remnant of that Battalion, and I — , but the 
hour had come. 

I started at the right of the Hne, which woidd 
be the rear when they swung into column, fol- 
lowed by my Adjutant, Lieutenant Pritchard. 
It was just before dawn, that most spookey 
and shivery of all hours — a few degrees above 
freezing, but the cold, fleecy mist that enveloped 
us seemed to penetrate our very bones. Just 
enough light was filtering through for me to 
recognize each officer and man as I walked 
slowly close to the line. Not a word was spoken 
— ^not a sound, save the never tearing screech 
of an occasional shell with its ugly blast, or 
the rattling, echoing tat, tat, tat-a-tatl of a 
machine gun or an automatic rifle in the dis- 
tance. 

Along the whole wide front I moved — sadly, 
looking into the face of each man, each so busy 
with his thoughts. How pinched, how tired — 
how worn they looked. Many cheeks were wet 
with tears. Each man made an effort to smile. 
Many chins and lips trembled. The very chill 
and the darkness seemed charged and potent 
with death. But every head was high. Every 



44 MY COLORED BATTALION 

form was rigidly erect. "They are just great 
children," I thought, "so proud in their sacrifice, 
so brave, so true in this awful preliminary hour 
— great trusting, innocent boys suffering for 
the sins and for the sakes of others, and mine 
the sad, oh, U7ispeakahly sad, duty of leading 
them to death, or to horrors and suffering even 
worse." Had I not been going with them I 
could not have faced them then. I reached the 
end of the line. My staff and runners fell in 
behind me. The Captain of the leading com- 
pany gave a signal, repeated down the line. 
They swung — ''Squads left!" And the Death 
March had begun. 

No band was playing, no colors flying, no 
loved ones and friends admiring, cheering — 
just on through the ghastly night — and I could 
feel the very heart beat of those twelve hundred 
and fifty brave men behind me as plainly as I 
could hear the muffled tread of their hob-nailed 
shoes. For I loved that Battalion. It was the 
pride of my life. And there was not one among 
all those hundreds of big, black heroes of mine 
that would not have gone through hell for his 
Major. And no one knew it better than I. 



MY COLORED BATTALION 45 

On, on, thump, thump, thump, up the fa- 
mihar road, under the great bare trees, past the 
deserted, shell marked houses, and damp, tomb- 
Uke ruins that had once been happy homes. 
Then we were in ^the outskirts of the town. 
On the left was the arch, the big iron gate 
and the ruined house under which were the dug- 
outs of the battalion infirmary. Soon we were 
passing the Battalion graveyard to our right, 
with its rows of mounds and wooden crosses 
barely discernable. 

And strangely enough, at a time like this, I 
thought of one very dark night, much darker 
than this, with flares and star shells and colored 
rockets lighting no-man's land, not far away, 
and the flash and roar of big guns and scream- 
ing shells, when we buried our first man there, 
killed the night we first moved into the sector. 
And I remembered how helpless and small he 
seemed as they gently laid him in his shallow 
grave, and then when we bent near to conceal 
the brief glare of a pocket flashlight, how proud 
he looked, with a great hole through his chest 
torn by a flying chunk of jagged steel, and 
only a blanket for a coflin, and the expression 



46 MY COLORED BATTALION 

of peace on the young black face, for he had 
stuck and died at his post. And then when the 
little, muddy grave was filled, how pitiful and 
how lonely he seemed, as we left him to dark- 
ness in that blood soaked foreign soil — so far 
from his loved ones and home. 

Like thousands in that helhsh war, he had 
made the supreme sacrifice, had unflinchingly 
laid down his life to save others. He was a 
true American soldier. I hope they still keep 
flowers on his grave. 

I could see the very mound there on the end 
as we passed, for already a faint, cold bright- 
ness was breaking through the mist. On we 
marched, up and off the road, through the 
labyrinth of grave-like trenches, till at last we 
reached the broad maze of our most advance 
wire. New paths or openings had just been 
cut and men of the Battalion Scout Platoon 
were waiting to guide us through. 

It was still impossible to see more than 
twenty -five or thirty yards through the fog, so 
with compas in hand I led the column through 
no-man's land like a skipper would pilot a 



MY COLORED BATTALION 47 

ship, among shell holes, through small guUeys, 
clumps of scrubby brush and patches of dead 
weeds, and as we neared and entered enemy 
wire, past ghastly, stinking objects that re- 
minded us most keenly of the attempts our 
predecessors had made to do what we had to 
do. I also reflected, when I saw the head drop 
off of one as a man jarred the wire it hung over, 
that my own carcass or the carcasses of a king 
or even a queen, or of some wealthy notable, 
would look no better if it had been lying or 
hanging out in the weather for about twomonths 
with these horrible objects that had once been 
fine young American soldiers. (During the 
time we occupied the sector patrols had brought 
in and we had buried a number of these bodies.) 
There was almost a mile of no-man's land at 
the point where we had crossed it, for we trav- 
eled on the lowest ground because the mist was 
denser there. But at last we had come to the 
acres of wire before the enemy outpost position 
called Belle Aire Farm, in French "Ferme de 
Belle Aire." This w^as several hundred yards 
in advance of Bois Frehaut, the main position, 
which occupied higher and rising ground. Part 



48 MY COLORED BATTALION 

of the battalion, led by Captain Green of "H" 
Company, which was to lead on the right, 
moved around to the east to take their places 
ready for the attack. The rest cut through the 
Belle Aire wire, one detachment cutting in on 
the flank to bayonet machine gunners, for we 
worked quietly at this stage, and we worked 
fast, taking advantage of the now rapidly thin- 
ning mist. This whole thing had been planned 
by us to outguess the enemy and in so far 
as possible to avoid casualties, for dead and 
wounded men can not take and hold positions 
such as that. 

It was at this point that I saw two of my 
men knocked over by machine gun fire, the first 
to fall in this affair, and as we hugged the 
ground waiting for our flanking party to re- 
ward those machine gunners, I could have dic- 
tated quite a story, had there been any one to 
take it down, on the subject of Militarism and 
War in general. I wondered how many wars 
there'd be and how long they'd last if the people 
who profit by them or hope to profit by them 
had to be up there with us. I was in a nasty 
mood, as I usually was, when I thought of 



MY COLORED BATTALION 49 

most any phase of the war except of the glori- 
ous men who personally faced the real danger 
and who did the actual fighting. I doubt 
whether that story, as I would have dictated it 
then, would be very popular with people who 
didn't honestly and actually suffer in or be- 
cause of the war, or with those who think they 
believe in militarism and war. 

We were not delayed long. Then with Belle 
Aire Farm behind us, we rapidly deployed and 
took up our formation in platoon and half 
platoon columns facing and about one hundred 
yards from the wire of the main position. The 
entire command took cover in shell holes, in 
depressions, behind mounds or clusters of dead 
weeds ready to spring forward in force at the 
proper moment. I had time to make sure that 
all was in readiness as planned and get back to 
the center. The mist had lifted and enemv ma- 
chine gunners near the edge of the wood, espe- 
cially those with nests in trees, were blazing 
away recklessly. 

Promptly at six fifty-five (all watches had 
been synchronized) our big guns, miles behind 
us, almost simultaneously began to bark and 



50 MY COLORED BATTALION 

boom. Then came the shells, a low moaning 
roar at first, the sound rising in pitch something 
like a slowly operated steam siren whistle, then 
increasing in volume and shrillness till it 
seemed like a mighty tornado coming right at 
us. The noise was so great and so sudden that 
it was almost unbearable. Then they began to 
explode all along, most of them just in front of 
us. Words are utterly inadequate to describe 
this awful cataclysm as it felt and seemed to us. 
We had figured that the enemy would drop 
his barrage first in front of Belle Aire Farm. 
That's why we had gotten through that posi- 
tion so hastily and it was fortunate that we ad- 
vanced as far as we did even at the risk of being 
too close to our own barrage, for almost imme- 
diately the dirt and rocks began to fly behind us 
— not in front of the Belle Aire wire, but right 
on the position itself. Some one had been tele- 
phoning. We were too close to our own bar- 
rage, but I knew it would advance in a few 
minutes, and the enemy barrage was entirely too 
close behind us. Talk about being between two 
fires. A curtain of fire from our own artillery 
just ahead of us and a wall of the most intense 



MY COLORED BATTALION 51 

and concentrated fire from batteries guarding 
Metz falling immediately in our rear, the shells 
passing each other not far above our heads, A 
few from each side fell short. 

To be killed or rendered unconscious is easy, 
but to have to live through a situation like that 
right out in the open is beyond all power to 
describe. Our chances for survival and success 
hung in the balance, the suspense was madden- 
ing. The enemy barrage would soon be low- 
ered in front of the main wire — right where we 
were. It might be lowered any second. I de- 
cided that if he lowered it we would rush into 
our own barrage rather than stay where we 
were, for as many of us as possible must get 
through that wire. 

I kept looking at my watch, ready to give the 
signal that would be relayed along our line. It 
was six fifty-eight, then finally six fifty-eight 
and a half ; at last it got to be six fifty-nine. If 
that enemy barrage lowered then, our casualties 
would be enormous and our chances for success 
almost gone. It was bad enough as it was. 
That was the longest minute I ever spent. 

Promptly at seven, as scheduled, our bar- 



52 MY COLORED BATTALION 

rage jumped and in a few seconds practically 
all of our shells were falling beyond the wire. 
This was our time to get through and quickly, 
if ever. All along the front our boys went for 
those entanglements. Talk about wire en- 
tanglements. They had recently been repaired 
and strengthened. Most of the wire was the 
heavy new German type, with barbs an inch 
and a half long and less than an inch apart. It 
required heavy two-handed cutters with handles 
two and a half feet long to cut it. Small cut- 
ters were useless for cutting here. The wide 
belts were not only criss-crossed back and forth 
in all directions on stakes and on cheveaux-de- 
frise, but woven in every conceivable way as 
high as a man's head back among the trees. 

There were pits and trenches with wire 
thrown in loose and in coils covered with light 
limbs and leaves for men to fall into. We had 
no tanks. They set off mines, many of which 
blew holes sixty to seventy feet in diameter. 
Grenades and bombs were suspended from 
limbs and in the brush in such a way that step- 
ping on or touching a certain stick or wire 
would explode them. Machine guns were placed 



MY COLORED BATTALION 53 

at varying distances back in the wood, some on 
little camoflaged platforms in trees, some in 
trenches and some in cement "pill boxes" lo- 
cated so as to sweep and enfilade every section 
of the wire. 

High ranking officers from the rear as well 
as low ranking ones who swarmed up to visit 
the place after the armistice were amazed at the 
strength of the position, and when they saw it 
at close range the predominant question was, 
"How did they ever get through?" And they 
only saw it from the outside edge, for no one 
was allowed into the wood. It was saturated 
with gas for days. 

The entire Bois Frehaut, which means Fre- 
haut Woods, was wired every few hundred 
yards in front of trench systems and enfilading 
machine guns. There were deep rocky ravines, 
steep hills, large patches of heavy undergrowth 
filled with wire, traps, mines and pitfalls of 
every description, also magnificent dugouts and 
a most complete system of 'phone and signal 
lines. 

The platoons and half platoons went through 
in single file, strong men in front taking turns 



54 MY COLORED BATTALION 

at cutting wire and those behind bending back 
or securing the loose ends as well as possible 
with the small cutters. There was from a hun- 
dred and fifty to two hundred yards interval 
between detachments. It was impossible for 
them to see each other after entering the wood, 
so that until their objectives were reached each 
outfit to all intents and purposes was an inde- 
pendent command. 

Practically every one had penetrated the 
first or outer entanglements when the enemy 
laid his barrage right on us. The first men 
through were going after the machine guns and 
snipers that were bothering them most, crawl- 
ing around behind or flanking them, using hand 
grenades and bayonets, firing with automatic 
rifles and taking pot shots at those in trees. 
Being through the first system of wire we 
could scatter somewhat and take advantage of 
shell holes, trenches, even hollows. 

But how any one lived under that fire is still 
a mystery to me. Enemy artillery had gotten 
word by telephone or airplane, probably both, 
that we were into the wood, and had decided to 
end us right there. Stones, dirt, schrapnel. 



MY COLORED BATTALION 55 

limbs and whole trees filled the air. The noise 
and concussion alone were enough to kill one. 
Talk about shell shock. The earth swayed and 
shook and fairly bounced with the awful im- 
pact. Flashes of fire, the metallic crack of high 
explosives, the awful explosions that dug holes 
fifteen and twenty feet in diameter, the utter 
and complete pandemonium and the stench of 
hell, your friends blown to bits, the pieces drop- 
ping near — even striking you. If anything can 
be more terrifying, more nerve-breaking in this 
world than a concentrated fire from heavies 
such as that, I am unable to conceive of it. It's 
many times worse than the worst thing one can 
imagine. It can't be described because there is 
nothing you have experienced, unless the thing 
itself, with which to compare it. 

There were many guns defending Metz and 
this wa.9 a concentration of heavy caliber fire — 
we were the only ones advancing just then. 
After what semed a lifetime he lowered it still 
more to the point where our barrage was drop- 
ping ahead of us, then it slowly crept back 
over us to the Belle Aire wire. Several times 
it passed over us, rather on us, in this combing 



56 MY COLORED BATTALION 

process, before we reached our goal. Other 
batteries were shelling our back areas and still 
others were shelling us promiscuously. 

But the boys kept on, taking advantage of 
any available cover at times, but resuming, 
silencing machine guns that still were active, 
bombing dugouts and bayoneting or shooting 
all the enemy that had lingered too long. Only 
by special effort did I secure three live Huns. 

By nine thirty-five all platoons assigned to 
the first line, but two, were represented on the 
line of our objectives. As prearranged this 
word reached me through runners. The two 
outfits had been delayed by machine gun nests, 
but they soon came up. By ten o'clock liaison 
was fully established, combat groups had been 
located and were digging in, machine guns and 
trench mortars were, being placed, and in other 
ways we were getting ready to withstand coun- 
ter attacks as well as artillery fire, which, if we 
held, soon would include more gas. I had sent 
two platoons of the support company to help 
protect our right flank, which was the eastern 
edge of the wood. 

So I wrote a message, put it into the small 



MY COLORED BATTALION 57 

aluminum shell on the leg of a pigeon. The 
man released him and we watched him rise and 
circle, then head southward with word for the 
Commanding General fifteen miles back at 
Division Headquarters in Marbache that Bois 
Frehaut was ours — all objectives reached, were 
holding and would continue to hold. 

Then I took my staff and Artillery Liaison 
officers and my runners and went back to a pre- 
arranged locaHty in the edge of the wood and 
established my permanent headquarters or P. 
C. in an open shell hole. A few men set to 
work with spades and picks to shape it up and 
give it a little level floor space. 

A Bosch airplane appeared over the edge 
of the wood flying low and saw us. He circled 
a few times and dropped out some signals. In 
just four minutes by my watch we heard two 
big shells, one just behind the other, coming 
right at us. After a few months' experience 
you get so you can tell from the sound just 
about where a shell is going to hit. One of these 
struck twenty-five yards beyond us, the other 
almost the same distance to our left. In less 
than a minute we heard two more coming the 



58 MY COLORED BATTALION 

same route. One struck twenty yards short, 
the other not quite so short, but a little to the 
right. They had the range. The guns were 
five and a half or six miles away. 

After the sixth shot had just missed I or- 
dered everybody out of the hole. They occu- 
pied others a short distance away. The air- 
plane, so low that the men were shooting at it 
with their rifles, noted this scattering, but he 
evidently noted, too, that I had remained, so 
the firing continued. I felt a sort of pride 
about sticking to my headquarters. The thirty- 
sixth shell fired at it struck right near the edge 
and covered me up. Oh, yes, I was given ener- 
getic assistance in getting out. We cleaned 
out the hole and resumed business. Now that 
the airplane had signaled "a hit" and gone, it 
was as safe as any other place in that locality. 

People said it seemed miraculous that with 
so many big shells fired at it and hitting on all 
sides in such a small area, each one had failed 
to hit directly in that big hole. But I was not 
conceited enough to think that the Huns were 
firing shells that curved by magic for my spe- 
cial benefit. I had estimated during the "Death 



MY COLORED BATTALION 59 

March" just before dawn that I had one chance 
in three of coming through that operation ahve 
and one in twelve of escaping serious wounds 
or gassing. I beheved in God all right, but I 
did not think then and do not now believe that 
He was down there taking an active part in 
that horrible orgy of suffering and destruction. 
1 felt that if anything other than vain humanity 
was fighting on or with either side it must be 
his Satanic JNIajesty. I was not trying to palm 
off on God the things that be Caesar's. How- 
ever — well, that calls for another lecture. But 
don't any of you get an idea that I'm trying to 
belittle true religion. I think it's the greatest 
thing by far in the word or accessible to the 
world today. 

This little digression about something besides 
the battle, I suppose, is the result of a habit I 
got into in the front lines of thinking when 
things were unusually dangerous and there was 
nothing to do but let it work for the time being, 
of something pleasant and wholly unassociated 
with the nasty business in hand. 

I remember how Lieutenant Stuart, my 
Battalion Scout Officer (he was half Indian) 



60 MY COLORED BATTALION 

when we had finished discussing the details of 
a patrolling expedition he was going to lead in 
a few minutes — and it took a lot of nerve to 
prowl around no-man's land in the dead of 
night — would pause, then with a broad smile 
and chuckling, a little, would tell me some 
trifling story, usually about something that 
occurred when he was a small child away back 
in Arizona. Then, still grinning and chuckling, 
he'd get up and say: "Well, Major, it's time 
to pull out. The boys are waiting. See you as 
soon as I get back." I never felt right sure 
he'd come back. 

My Adjutant, too, when we'd be waiting for 
some terrible thing to happen during the night, 
expecting an assault, shells dropping promis- 
cuously and perhaps a bombing plane buzzing 
overhead, used to tell some of the most outland- 
ish stories of his experiences while a regular in 
Hawaii or the Philippines or some place. I 
suppose all men exposed to real danger had 
some way of "kidding" themselves along under 
most any conditions. If they didn't have they 
were in a bad way. 

Soon after I was resurrected from the shell 



MY COLORED BATTALION 61 

hole a runner from the right front company 
(by the way, he was sighted in Division orders 
and should have had a medal for the way be 
got to me) stumbled in exhausted, with a note 
from Green (who, under machine gun fire, had 
climbed a tree to get a better view) advising me 
that the enemy was preparing in force to rush 
our right flank. Two platoons, one from the 
support, the other from the Reserve Company, 
and my two remaining reserve machine guns 
had barely time to reach the spot to which they 
were ordered when the assault started. By 
flanking our would-be flankers as they came 
over a ridge, they saved the day. Several at- 
tacks against our front failed to succeed because 
of well directed fire. 

And still the bombardment continued with- 
out a pause. It seemed to me that almost all 
the big guns that side of Metz were firing on 
Bois Frehaut and the old no-man's land just 
behind it. And I learned afterward that they 
were, for we were the only ones that had taken 
and were holding any special territory. They 
had been expecting a drive on Metz for some 
time and their artillery especially was well pre- 



62 MY COLORED BATTALION 

pared. Shrapnel and high explosive contact 
shells of all sizes fell on all parts of the area. 
They knew more about the armistice than we 
did and his artillery seemed to want to do all 
the damage it could while the war lasted. Just 
before dark on the tenth he began throwing 
over great quantities of gas and continued to 
mix it in all night long. They seemed deter- 
mined to run us out or exterminate us. 

For twenty-eight long hours we advanced 
and held under a bombardment that in my 
opinion had not been surpassed if equalled on 
a similar area held by American troops dur- 
ing a similar length of time. The enemy had 
allowed the Allies some time before to get as 
close to Metz as he intended they should get — 
that was the outside wire of Bois Frehaut. We 
were not attacking in great force after hours 
of artillery preparation with almost innumer- 
able big guns supporting us, though what artil- 
lery was in action behind us did excellent work. 
Neither was the enemy fighting a rear guard 
action while his main forces beat a hasty re- 
treat. 

At ten o'clock the night of the tenth I re- 



MY COLORED BATTALION 63 

ceived a copy of orders indicating that a bat- 
talion was to enter the western part of the 
wood during the night and advance on the en- 
emy through my left front company, "G," at 
five o'clock next morning. I smiled in my gas 
mask, for I had watched the efforts of a certain 
battalion backed by another battalion, to come 
up into the woods during the afternoon. They 
got as far as Ferme de Belle Aire — part of 
them — and at dark withdrew. Very early the 
morning of the eleventh the "attacking" bat- 
tahon got within the outer wire of Bois Fre- 
haut. By five A. M. two officers and a handful 
of men had worked their way as far as the 
headquarters of a certain "G" Company 
platoon. Our barrage started on the dot. The 
two officers, followed by the handful of men, 
advanced beyond our front line and looked 
about. One of the officers was promptly 
wounded, and — well there was no attack. 

During that entire twenty-eight hours Sig- 
nal Outfits from Division Headquarters were 
trying to get a telephone Hne up to my P. C. 
But the wire was always either shot in two or 
the men were and I had no 'phone until after 



64 MY COLORED BATTALION 

the armistice. It was almost impossible for 
runners to get between me and our old front 
lines behind us, and still more difficult for my 
runners to get between me and my own Com- 
pany and Platoon leaders in the woods. But 
they did it. 

All day, all night and up to eleven o'clock 
next morning it lasted. By midnight the entire 
wood fairly reeked with gas. No one dared eat 
or drink because of it. Despite all our precau- 
tions and efforts, we were rapidly being wiped 
out. I have heard of officers and of men and 
of units — large ones and small ones, white and 
also colored, that became panic stricken and 
useless under fire that was feeble and light both 
in intensity and duration compared to this, 
but I am ready at any time to testify that 
twelve hundred and fifty officers and men 
(colored) did advance and that the command 
did hold without showing the faintest symp- 
toms of panic or retreat. 

All of you who were with the Three Hundred 
and Sixty-fifth Infantry prior to September 
twenty-third, 1918, know Colonel Vernon A. 
Caldwell of West Point and the Regular 



MY COLORED BATTALION 65 

Army. He organized and commanded the 
Regiment until he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
eral and left us on the date named. To him I 
attribute much of the credit for our success 
in taking and holding Bois Frehaut. He had 
taught us "simple and direct means and meth- 
ods" and had taught us to "think tactics" in a 
way that proved of inestimable value under the 
supreme test. For Colonel Caldwell was one 
of our professional officers who did not have 
to pose as a "disciplinarian" to get by. 

You might like to know about that action 
from the standpoint of tactics and how it was 
that many of us survived without permanent 
injury. It is very interesting. I wish I might 
explain it in detail. To me it is more inter- 
esting from the standpoint of courage, efficiency 
and unswerving devotion to duty displayed by 
both officers and men. It was a fitting climax 
to an enviable battalion record of front line 
service, and an accomplishment most creditable 
to the American Army and to its colored sol- 
diers. 

I wish I had time to tell you of the many 
especially glorious deeds of heroism performed 



66 MY COLORED BATTALION 

by officers and men. I use the word glorious, 
for to me, even that is a weak word to use in 
describing the heroic actions of a man utterly 
and deliberately, premeditatedly indifferent to 
his personal safety and bent solely on duty 
plus a desire to help and save others. And 
to me, too, that is the only thing about war, 
unless it is the fortitude of those left at home 
in suspense and unselfishly doing all in their 
power to help, that comes any way near being 
glorious. 

If they'd only kill them outright instead of 
leaving them to suffer and die in agony per- 
haps hours ( even months ) later. To see them 
suffering and be powerless to help them, and to 
know that many might be saved if it were pos- 
sible to stop the slaughter long enough to give 
them proper medical attention. Many men 
died in Bois Frehaut or afterward who might 
have been saved, could they have been promptly 
and properly attended. What a hell of a game 
for Christian nations to be playing and getting 
ready to play again, in the Twentieth Century 
A.D. 

One little scene has bobbed up in my memory 



MY COLORED BATTALION 67 

' — the death of an "E" Company Runner. Late 
on the afternoon of the tenth I left my P. C. 
to get a view of a certain position. I had gone 
but a short distance when I stepped on some- 
thing that attracted by attention. It was a 
human hand ! Near it was a large spot of blood 
and a trail as though something had been 
dragged in the general direction of where our 
First Aid Dressing Station had been before 
it was blown up. My course lay a little to the 
right, but I followed the gruesome marks for 
about fifty yards and there huddled up in a lit- 
the gulley laid the "E" Company Runner I 
had sent out with a message for Captain San- 
ders about two hours before. 

Not only was his right arm off at the elbow, 
but his right side and leg were badly mangled. 
I thought he was dead, but bent over and put 
my hand on his forehead. His eyes opened. 
In them was a wistful, faraway look. I spoke, 
and with an apparent effort he got them fo- 
cused, they brightened with recognition, and 
immediately, almost to my undoing, his body 
straightened! His right shoulder and the 
stub of an arm jerked! Utterly helpless, 
trembling on the very brink of eternity, he 



68 MY COLORED BATTALION 

had come to "Attention" and had saluted his 
Major! 

Then I noticed he was making a pitiful effort 
to talk, and in some way, I can't explain just 
how, I got the impression that there was some- 
thing in his pocket he wished to see. I took out 
a wallet and found what I knew he wanted. It 
was a post-card photo of a pretty colored girl 
holding in her arms a dark, smiling baby. Shells 
were screeching over. Just then one tore the 
earth nearby and sprinkled us with dirt. I 
propped his head against my knee and held the 
picture close to his eyes. A proud, satisfied 
look came into them, then a calm, tired smile. 
He seemed looking farther and farther away. 
Another terrific, bouncing jar and the bloody, 
mud smeared form relaxed. Another brave 
comrade had "gone west." 

A little farther on I saw a big private lean- 
ing against the splintered trunk of a tree, his 
bowels all hanging out. No one else was near. 
He seemed to be in delirium and was crying 
pitifully like a little child for "Mamma." When 
he saw me he stared for an instant, then jumped 



MY COLORED BATTALION 69 

up and yelled, "Major Ross is with us! Go to 
it, boys !" and fell over — dead. Then I thought 
about all I had heard to the effect that you have 
to treat soldiers like dogs — especially colored 
ones — ^to gain discipline and inspire respect. 
I thanked God I didn't have to. 

I might tell you how that morning during 
the advance, I happened to be looking at a 
non-com. section leader a little way to my left 
when there was a wicked crack and a blinding 
flash just above and in front of him, and how 
1 saw his headless body — the blood gushing — 
actually step and lunge forward against a rock. 
I could tell you about strong men who went 
raving mad (and were still insane when I last 
heard) in that horrible turmoil. I could tell for 
hours about awful things in Bois Frehaut — let 
alone previous experiences in other places — the 
days were bad but the long weird nights. They 
are too gruesome, too sickening to talk about 
long at a time even here where we're all safe, 
rested and well. No wonder the men who actu- 
ally, personally underwent such suffering won't 
talk about it much. But the memory of those 
awful things, pass it off as they may, is seared 



70 MY COLORED BATTALION 

deep into their very souls and will haunt them 
at times until their dying day. 

There were people in America and also in 
France who wore officers' uniforms and had 
the time of their lives and there were some who, 
if there is justice to come, will surely pay for 
their ridiculous arrogance during and following 
the war. Militarism is one of the disgusting 
institutions I fought to help eliminate. Yes, 
it will be ehminated — and prevented. At a 
glance just now on the surface, in most nations, 
things look much as before. The same old 
gang is in control, but lying and allying, brow 
beating, scheming a little more than was neces- 
sary heretofore. Since the World War (the 
result of worldly success and money worship) 
started in 1914, things have happened. For 
instance, the acceleration of the change in wom- 
an's status. Votes are merely a result of that 
change. This phase alone, and what goes with 
it — the new state of sex affairs — necessitates 
and will help bring about a changing of human 
viewpoint. 

Whether or not certain persons and classes 
of persons like it, Democracy is in the world to 



MY COLORED BATTALION 71 

stay, and staying will increase and flourish as 
the people learn. Reversion for the masses to 
ignorance, feudalism, slavery is unthinkable — 
impossible. Is the Almighty God a human 
fool? Has humanity ever or will it ever get 
away with the assumption that He is? Think 
of those fine young victims I mentioned lying 
in and hanging on the wire in front of Belle 
Aire Farm. 

More important than militarism and war, or 
than politics, or than how to acquire fortunes, 
or than anything else is the learning — not just 
about it — but how to attain righteousness, 
peace, contentment, true happiness. I put 
righteousness first for there'll be none of those 
things humanity longs for without it. There'll 
be plenty of hypocrisy, but not much genuine 
righteousness until more of us get our minds, 
our hearts, our aspirations set on something 
higher than materialism and worldliness. You 
can not legislate righteousness into the hearts 
of humanity. 

A host of thinking people are beginning to 
suspicion this to such an extent that they are 
interested in finding out the truth — ^the remedy. 



72 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Now there are persons rushing about, others 
lying in wait to tell you the "truth." Or they 
will hand you a pamphlet or sell you a book or 
refer you to one written by some person who 
makes great claims or insinuations about hav- 
ing "inside information." There may be enough 
truth to it to fool the thoughtless or credulous 
and it may be insidious enough to worry even 
the wise. There are several that make startling 
claims, but none have yet overcome any mate- 
rial laws. There are numerous courses of study 
and "systems," not claiming to be Christian or 
religious, that guarantee to, and no doubt do, 
help you in business, add to your success, cure 
your ailments — some of them — and benefit your 
health. 

Almost innumerable panaceas for all ills 
are advanced. Some of those religionists and 
uplifters with the "inside information" and 
"special revelations," etc., may be sincere and 
many people may believe whatever it is. The 
same is true of the Turks and the South Sea 
Island Head-Hunters. 

But in so far as I can find out there never 
lived on this earth but one Man who taught the 



MY COLORED BATTALION 73 

things we need to and want to know about — 
who absolutely lived up to them Himself and 
who proved them and demonstrated them be- 
yound all peradventure. You will find by hon- 
est, careful study, expermient and thought that 
these things and these alone are practical. That 
Man was born in a stable, died on a cross and 
left an estate consisting of the clothes He wore. 
He's the man who said, "Love your enemies." 
"Lay up your treasures in Heaven." "My 
Kingdom is not of this world." "If you love me, 
keep my commandments or sayings." "Except 
a man be born again . . . ." "By their fruits 
shall ye know them," etc., etc. And He's the 
One Christendom claims to follow. 

Fortunately certain men who knew Him 
personally and others who knew His Apostles 
personally wrote about Him — what He said 
and what He did. Some of those writings were 
gotten together and compiled into a book. 
That book is called "The New Testament." 
Now with all due respect and consideration for 
the motives and intentions of many of those 
who have since written, some of whom claim or 
infer "special" or "inside" information, I hum- 



74 MY COLORED BATTALION 

bly suggest that the logical, safe, reliable place 
for each of us to learn about Christ is in the 
New Testament. Let's find out whether He 
really said anything applicable and worth while 
now, whether He meant it, whether He lived it 
and proved it, and, above all, let us stick to it 
until we find out what it was and is. The world 
needs it badly — needs it pure and undiluted, 
unadulterated — needs to know what it is with- 
out concessions and without reservations. If 
the people are smart enough to govern them- 
selves (and I think they are and that they're 
improving in that ability right along) they are 
now at last smart enough to study the New 
Testament itself by themselves and for them- 
selves. How can any Christian logically object 
to that ? 

The only solution for humanity's problems 
and difficulties lies in a correct understanding 
of the teachings of Christ — not some vanity 
tickling subterfuge. Some persons think they 
know all about it now. No human is raising 
the dead or stilling the tempest these days and 
that "know it all" attitude is the result of fleshly 
vanity — not knowledge. So let's start or re- 



MY COLORED BATTALION 75 

view, beginning in the primary grade or the 
kindergarten. Many seem to have started in 
the post-graduate courses or at least in the 
senior class. I have a suspicion that selfishness, 
vanity, swell headedness, worldly pride, mate- 
rial ambition (whether called material or not) , 
and so on, are the direct opposite to Chris- 
tianity. 

I thought I knew a lot about religion, but 
after they led me out of Bois Frehaut I started 
in in the primary grade to try to learn about 
Christianity — so to speak. The world must 
learn what it is, then begin learning to apply it 
or live it. It will be done. The churches will 
help. They'll help or quit. Many of them 
are about through now. But Christianity as 
Christ taught it won't quit. It will soon be the 
paramount subject of conversation and consid- 
eration. The world has reached a stage of ma- 
terial advancement. The people are awake, 
enlightened and organized to such an extent 
that things will become unbearable — impossible 
without it. 

I couldn't veiy well leave out all mention of 
Christianity in this lecture, for the things my 



76 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Battalion fought to help make possible and 
to bring about in the world are in one sense 
closely allied to Christianity. There couldn't 
be much real Christianity without Democracy 
and there can't be any real Democracy without 
Christianity. I don't claim to be much of a 
Christian, but I wish I had time to tell you 
what I think it is, and why I think so and what 
makes me think so, and so on. You look into it 
yourselves. And now we must get out of Bois 
Frehaut. 

Not until ten-thirty o'clock on the morning 
of November eleventh did I receive orders rela- 
tive to an armistice. The third runner sent out 
got through to me with a Division order. I was 
in direct command of the principal advancing 
done in attempts on the tenth and eleventh 
toward Metz and this was the first definite word 
I had about the armistice. We had heard that 
such a thing was expected but I supposed it 
would be several days, maybe weeks, before it 
went into effect. We knew that German offi- 
cers had gone through the hnes under a flag of 
truce to meet representatives of the High 
Allied Command, but we did not know 



MY COLORED BATTALION 77 

what the result of those parleys had been. 
Some thought hostilities would not cease for 
months. 

Therefore, imagine our joy in that unbear- 
able shellhole, when we found the war had but 
thirty minutes to last. Of those with me at the 
time some shouted for happiness and some 
stared in amazement fearing it was too good to 
be true. I sent the word out to my leaders and 
sat looking at my watch. Artillery fire in- 
creased in intensity if any difference and enemy 
machine gunners elevated their pieces and 
were spraying the wood with bullets. It would 
have been hard luck to get hit then. Promptly 
at eleven o'clock all fire began to lessen and in 
a few minutes had ceased. The World War 
had stopped. 

Not only our men but the Germans also 
seemed overjoyed. Soon after the buglers had 
sounded "cease firing" the Huns rushed out 
of their positions and our men met them be- 
tween the lines. They actually shook hands and 
slapped each others backs. They traded trin- 
kets and were holding a veritable reception 
until our officers succeeded in getting the men 



78 MY COLORED BATTALION 

back into the lines. I wouldn't believe it if I 
hadn't seen it. 

During the afternoon I received word that 
our Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the Regi- 
ment, together with some members of his staff, 
had been badly gassed in a dugout at Regi- 
mental Headquarters and forced to go to the 
hospital and that I, being next in rank, was 
temporarily in command of the Regiment. My 
face was so swollen that I could see a little only 
with one eye. My ears had been bleeding and 
I had to be yelled at to hear. I was scratched 
and bruised and my voice refused to work. A 
sort of reaction had set in and I felt weak and 
sick. We passed a row of dead and pieces of 
dead and some more dead and finally reached 
the limousine that had been sent for me. 

We were proceeding slowly because of shell 
holes in the road when one of the men with me 
said, "There's a man ahead singing and waving 
his arms like he's crazy." I could see that he 
was rared back and singing or yelling and 
every few steps he stopped and waved his arms 
and executed some strange dance movements. 
When we overtook him I stopped the car and 



MY COLORED BATTALION 79 

asked him what was the matter. "Sir — Ma- 
jor," he said, his eyes beaming, "I-I just can't 
praise God enough for letting me come out of 
that woods aUve." 

The outfit was too tired to move far that day. 
But the next morning the regimental band 
came to me in a body and asked permission 
to march up the road a mile or so to meet the 
Second Battalion, which under my orders was 
coming to Loisey, where there were comfort- 
able billets, to rest. I walked out into the vil- 
lage square, as Regimental Commander, to wel- 
come my heroic battalion — the battahon that 
had earned undying fame for itself, its regi- 
ment, its brigade, its division and for the Amer- 
ican colored race. 

Soon I heard the band playing as it never 
played before and they came into view march- 
ing up the main street of the town. There at 
the head, limping and dirty, was my big senior 
captain, Sanders. Farther back I could rec- 
ognize Green, captain of "H," stocky and 
ragged, marching abreast of his company 
guide. Others I noticed, and the absence of 
others, and many thoughts flashed through 



80 MY COLORED BATTALION 

my mind as I watched them marching 
toward me. 

Sanders saw me and knew what to do. I 
never gave many fancy orders, it wasn't nec- 
essary in that outfit. When the middle of the 
column was opposite he bawled in a hoarse 
voice — but they, too, knew what to do — 
"Squads left — March! Battalion — Halt I" 
Those heels clicked. Their rifles, like one piece, 
in three clear-cut movements, snapped down to 
the "order." Again he yelled, or tried to yell, 
"Present, arms!" Again two distinct and 
snappy movements. Sanders faced about 
standing at salute and there before me at "pre- 
sent arms" — not much larger than one com- 
pany should be, stood all that was left of my 
wonderful Second Battalion! — My heroes of 
Bois Frehaut! 

Note : Many were wholly incapacitated for 
many days, whose names were not turned in 
in final reports of "casualties." 

I brought them to the "order" and stood 
spell bound. It was by far the most touching, 
the most thrilling, the most awe-inspiring cere- 
mony I ever experienced or witnessed. There 



MY COLORED BATTALION 81 

they stood — covered with mud, stained and 
spattered with blood, their clothes, what was 
left of them, torn and ripped to shreds. They 
looked emaciated — haggard, but about those 
erect, motionless figures, those big steady eyes, 
about their whole proud, manly bearing was 
something of that true nobility of unselfishness 
and sacrifice that is beyond description. 

These men had suffered the tortures of the 
damned. They had faced all the engines of ter- 
ror and destruction that fiendish man could in- 
vent. They had endured the shriek, the smash, 
the roar and pandemonium of hell. They had 
seen their comrades blown to bits or torn and 
mangled, and choked by gas. They had lis- 
tened, powerless to help, through long, ghastly 
hours, to the pitiful, heart-breaking moans of 
the wounded and dying. 

Yes, they had been tried, they had been 
tested, they had been weighed in the balance, 
they had been through a fiery crucible — and 
they were true gold. For many hard, long, 
weary weeks they had suffered and endured, 
and all for what they believed to be the preser- 
vation of our country, the advancement of 



82 MY COLORED BATTALION 

Democracy and the betterment of mankind. 
I stood there looking, thinking — torn and 
choked by emotion — thrilled with admiration, 
and a feeling rapidly growing that I would 
make my soldiers a speech — an oration. But 
what could I say? How could I say it? What 
could anyone in my place say? After several 
attempts I moved closer and whispered as 
loudly as I could, "Officers and men, your 
Major is proud of his Battalion 1" 



APPENDIX 

History will concern itself as nearly as pos- 
sible with facts. Relative to the World War 
the world believes and will believe what is stated 
by those who were in supreme authority and by 
those whose business it is dispassionately — ^ 
mercilessly to ascertain and state the truth. 
Statements or accounts to the contrary, or that 
do not coincide, are merely ridiculous and can 
not stand. 

Commonplace, every-day occurrences, occur- 
rences that had no unusual bearing on anything 
of special importance, occurrences that were not 
exceptional, feats that were not particularly 
noteworthy from the standpoint of things as a 
whole, attempts that were not successful or were 
only partly successful — or if they cannot be 
logically and adequately proved — no matter 
how tremendous and how commendable they 
may be and may seem to those directly con- 
cerned — do not interest or convince very many, 
certainly not the general public — even now, 
and, of course, never will. 

83 



84 APPENDIX 

All accounts of American colored soldiers in 
France lay much stress on the Ninety-second 
Division's attack, just preceding the armistice, 
on the defenses of Metz — conceded to be the 
most impregnable inland fortress or position in 
the world. To attack the world's strongest 
fortress means something, and if you attain 
any actual, clear cut, unquestionable success, 
and if the world knows about it, it means a 
great deal. Especially in a Democracy is pub- 
lic opinion of importance. 

At the time this attack was launched, namely, 
the morning of November 10th, 1918, the Di- 
vision had had sufficient experience in the line 
and was sufficiently well organized and 
equipped to be taken seriously as a combat Di- 
vision. But, unfortunately, our activities 
against the defenses and under the guns of 
Metz, coming, as they did, immediately pre- 
ceding the cessation of hostilities, a time when 
so much of interest and importance was trans- 
piring, received little if any general publicity. 

But, imagine my state of mind, having made 
a lecture to two colored audiences and having 
told my white friends about the wonderful ac- 



APPENDIX 85 

complishments of my Colored Battalion, when 
I read an Associated Press article sent out from 
Washington which contained a paragraph in a 
letter credited to General John J. Pershing, 
which read as follows: "The Ninety-second Di- 
vision, astride the Moselle, attacked at 7 a. m., 
jSTovember 10th and at 5 a. m., November 11th, 
advanced a short distance, but the troops had 
retired to cover in the face of repeated heavy 
fire when the commander of the attacking Bri- 
gade received information at 7:18 a. m. that 
an armistice would be effective " etc. 

My friends or any one's friends reading or 
hearing of this statement credited to the Com- 
mander-in-chief of the American Expedition- 
ary Forces would believe that the colored sol- 
diers of the Ninety-second Division (the only 
complete colored combat division) had at- 
tempted something against the fortifications 
of Metz but that they had FAILED! 

It made Bois Frehaut a hoax. It made me 
a liar. It made any colored citizen a laughing 
stock who spoke of the great deeds and accom- 
plishments of colored soldiers under the guns 
of Metz. 



86 APPENDIX 

Generalizations, even if authentic, are not 
convincing. Sweeping summaries about units 
differently engaged at different times and 
places change few opinions. Something spe- 
cific, complete in itself, satisfactorily provable 
to the skeptical must be shown, so it seemed 
up to me to secure and to preserve for the 
American colored soldier and for the American 
Negro, the credit for a most exceptional and 
glorious achievement. Immediately I wrote to 
a member of Congress, Hon. Will R. Wood, 
sent the extract from the Indianapolis Sunday 
Star of January 11th, 1920, and also the facts 
about the Ninety-second Division's drive to- 
ward Metz. 

After General Pershing had returned to 
Washington, following his tour of inspection, 
and had had the records fully looked into he 
wrote a letter to Mr. Wood dated March 1st, 
1920. Mr. Wood sent the letter to me. Gen- 
eral Pershing said that the paragraph as pub- 
lished was incorrect — that what he actually 
said in his letter was: *'The Ninety-second 
Division, astride the Moselle attacked at 7 a. m., 
November 10th, and at 5 a. m., November 11th, 



APPENDIX 87 

renewed the attack. The renewed attack 
started at 5 a. m., November 11th advanced a 
short distance, but the troops had retired to 

cover in the face of reported heavy fire " 

etc. 

Even this statement, while perfectly true as 
to the attempts to advance on November 11th, 
gives a general impression of failure on the 
part of the Division in its advance toward 
Metz. It does not, however, make it impossible 
or untrue that the key position, Bois Frehaut, 
was captured in its entirety on the 10th and 
continuously held until the armistice went into 
effect. The holding was really of more impor- 
tance than the capturing. The orders were 
"capture and hold" and great emphasis was 
laid on the "hold." But General Pershing 
goes on most fully and justly, as you will note, 
to state and show that the Second Battalion of 
the Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infantry 
did take and did hold the Bois Frehaut, and 
that this Battalion fully accomplished its mis- 
sion. 

The General's letter was published as part 
of an article, under the heading, "Pershing 



88 APPENDIX 

Sends Correct Report," in the Indianapolis 
Star of March 9th, 1920. It was also copied in 
other papers. The letter in full follows : 

American Expeditionary Forces 

Office of the Commander-in-Chief 

March 1, 1920. 

My dear Mr. Wood: 

I regret that my absence from Washington 
has delayed this reply to your letter of Janu- 
ary 17th enclosing a letter of January 12th 
from Major Ross. 

Major Ross quotes a paragraph from a letter 
written by me as pubhshed in the "Indianapo- 
lis Star" and objects to this paragraph as un- 
just in so far as his battalion (2nd Battalion, 
365th Infantry) i« concerned. As quoted by 
Major Ross the paragraph to which he objects 
reads as follows: 

"The 92nd Division, astride the Moselle, at- 
tacked at 7 a. m., November 10th and at 5 a. m., 
November 11th, advanced a short distance, but 
the troops had retired to cover in the face of 
repeated heavy fire when the commander of the 



APPENDIX 89 

attacking Brigade received information at 7:18 
a. m. that an armistice would be effective at 
11 a. m. The Brigade Commander reports that 
he ordered all firing stopped by 10 :45 a. m. and 
that the firing was so stopped." 

The above quotation is incorrect. The para- 
graph as actually written in my letter of No- 
vember 21st was as follows: 

''The 92nd Division, astride the Moselle, at- 
tacked at 7 a. m., November 10th and at 5 a. m., 
November 11th, renewed the attack. The re- 
newed attack started at 5 a. m., November 11th, 
advanced a short distance, but the troops had 
retired to cover in the face of reported heavy 
fire when the commander of the attacking Bri- 
gade received information at 7:18 a. m. that 
an armistice would be effective at 11 a. m. The 
Brigade Commander reports that he ordered 
all firing stopped by 10:45 a. m. and that the 
firing was so stopped." 

You will note that in the correct paragraph 
the reference to the retirement of troops relates 
solely to the renewed attack started at 5 a. m., 
November 11th and does not concern the at- 
tack of November 10th, I think a careful 



90 APPENDIX 

examination of Major Ross's letter shows that 
his statements as to the work of his battahon 
do not assert that any advance was made by 
the 2nd Battahon on November 11th. Exam- 
ination of the records shows that the 2nd Bat- 
talion did take the Bois Frehaut on November 
10th and that this battalion held this position 
until the armistice went into effect. 

The orders issued by the 183rd Brigade on 
the evening of November 10th for the operation 
of November 11th contemplated putting the 
1st Battalion of the 365th into position in the 
western part of Bois Frehaut and — "the 2nd 
Battalion, 365th Infantry will be held in sup- 
port in its present position in the Bois Fre- 
haut." This clearly shows that the 2nd Bat- 
talion, 365th Infantr}^ was not expected to at- 
tack on November 11th; and taken with other 
evidence shows that the 2nd Battalion, 365th 
Infantry, held, on November 11th, the positions 
which it had gained on November 10th. 

The actual statements made by me in my 
letter of November 21st were correct, based 
on the reports of the several commanders, and 
I think that Major Ross will agree that there 



APPENDIX 91 

is nothing in what I have said that reflects in 
any way upon the work of the 2nd Battalion, 
365th Infantry. That battalion appears to 
have done what was expected of it on Novem- 
ber 10th and on November 11th. As shown in 
the quotation I have given above from the order 
issued November 10th for the operation of No- 
vember 11th, the 2nd Battalion was in support 
and was not in the attacking line on the morn- 
ing of November 11th. 

I am enclosing herewith the papers enclosed 
with your letter of January 17th. 

Very sincerely, 
(Signed) John J. Pershing. 

The Honorable Will R. Wood, 
House of Representatives, 
Washington, D. C. 

In view of the general opinion prevailing 
among American forces in France, and the im- 
pression of the American public at large rela- 
tive to the Ninety-second Division's drive to- 
ward Metz also relative to its experience in the 
Argonne as represented by the Three Hundred 



92 APPENDIX 

and Sixty-eighth Infantry in the attacking hne, 
it seemed to me advisable to state what the 
result was of work done by attacking units, 
other than the Second Battalion of the Three 
Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infantry, in the ad- 
vance on Metz fortifications on November 10th 
and 11th. It is especially well that I mentioned 
them since General Pershing says in effect ( and 
the General knows and is regarded as an au- 
thority) that the Second Battalion, Three 
Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infantry fully accom- 
plished its mission, and also that attacks made 
on the 11th "advanced a short distance, but 

had retired to cover " 

No doubt, before reading my lecture, soine 
were of the opinion that the Ninety-second Di- 
vision was rushing with irresistible force past 
and over strong points, regardless of all de- 
fenses, sweeping all before it and was only pre- 
vented from battering down the walls of the 
city of Metz itself by the armistice. As nearly 
every soldier, from General Pershing down, 
knows and as the final battle line as compared 
with the line on November 9th clearly proves, 
such was not the case. Had I indulged in ght- 



APPENDIX 93 

tering generalities to that effect, had I even in- 
ferred it, or had I left an impression that all 
units concerned, accomplished their missions, 
that is, succeeded in carrying out their orders, 
I would lay myself open to serious and just 
criticism, for as leader of the attack on the key 
position, which was the central position, it was 
my business to know what happened on my 
front and on my flanks. I would be considered 
untruthful or at least an exaggerator, and all 
that I have said, if it has any effect at all, would 
detract from rather than add to the credit due 
the American colored soldier. 

"Scott's Official History of the American 
Negro in the World War," written and com- 
piled by Emmett J. Scott, special assistant to 
the Secretary of War, contains the general re- 
ports, less appendices and details, of the Com- 
mander of the Ninety-second Division and of 
the Commander of the One Hundred and 
Eighty-third Brigade relative to operations of 
November 10th and 11th. For your conveni- 
ence I shall cite pages in Dr. Scott's work. 

I said something to the effect that the bat- 
talion of the white division on the left of the 



94 APPENDIX 

367th's front attacked, lost about 156 men in 
a few minutes and retired. I also said that the 
367th Infantry on our left — ^just across the 
Moselle failed to accomphsh its mission. 

Page 151, Brigade Report, "At 10:30 a. m. 
a message from the Division was received that 
the attack of the 367th Infantry, 184th Bri- 
gade had been repulsed (on our left) , but that 
two companies were being sent forward to re- 
inforce their attack." 

Page 159, Division Report, "10 Nov, 9 :30 hr. 
—Attack by 367th Infantry west of Moselle 
not prosecuted because of failure of 56th In- 
fantry, 7th Division, to capture Preny. The 
report of the C. O., 367th Infantry at pages 
2 and 3 shows the facts and reasons." 

Page 160, Division report, "Inasmuch as the 
367th Infantry west of the Moselle made no 
advance due to the fact that it was necessary 
that the 7th Division should first capture Preny 
before an advance was practicable, no report is 
made here of enemy units engaged west of the 
Moselle." 

That, I take it, is enough to prove that no 
success was achieved by units advancing or to 



APPENDIX 95 

advance on our left. It is necessary to prove 
that for the benefit of only a very few, for the 
overwhelming majority of Americans (owing 
to the effort to give all units equal credit and 
imply that all concerned succeeded) are ignor- 
ant, or seriously in doubt whether the 92nd Di- 
vision or any of its units achieved any real suc- 
cess anywhere. 

Now let us see about our brigade — the 183rd, 
which comprised the 365th and 366th infantry 
and the 350th Machine Gun BattaHon. The 
Brigade report says, latter part of paragraph 
2 on page 149, same book, "The object of this 
attack was to capture and hold the Boise Fre- 
haut and the Bois Voivrotte (Bois Voivrotte is 
the name of the small wood I spoke of in the 
lecture, to our right) with the object of advanc- 
ing the line of observation of the Marbache 
sector to the northern boundary of these 
woods." So our brigade orders were to capture 
and hold these two woods, and, as we were ad- 
vancing from the south, the line we were to 
hold respectively, was the northern boundary 
of both these woods. 

Page 149, paragraph 3 of Brigade report: 



96 APPENDIX 

"The attack was to be made on the Bois Fre- 
haut by the 2nd Bn. 365th Inf., Major Warner 
A. Ross, commanding. The attack on the Bois 
Voivrotte was to be made by two platoons, 2nd 
Bn. 366th Inf. At the zero," etc. 

At the early hour of 8: 12, the report says, 
page 150, a message had been relayed from Di- 
vision headquarters to Brigade headquarters 
to the effect that Bois Voivrotte was completely 
occupied. It was very small compared to the 
positions the 2nd Bn. 365th Inf. was attacking. 
And the next entry, as given on page 150, is: 
"At 9 a. m. a message was received that sharp 
fighting by machine guns was going on in the 
Bois Voivrotte and the Bois Frehaut." This 
was the case in Bois Frehaut at that time and 
at 8:30 when I sent that particular message 
relative to Bois Frehaut by pigeon. Now, the 
fact that machine gun fighting was going on in 
Bois Voivrotte means that either the 8:12 mes- 
sage about it being completely occupied was 
premature or that machine guns had been sent 
in by the enemy after the platoons of the 2nd 
Bn. 366th Inf. "completely occupied" it. For 
if enemy machine gunners were occupying and 



APPENDIX 97 

fighting in the wood it could not be said to be 
"completely occupied" by our troops. 

After the 2nd Battalion, 365th Infantry had 
completely occupied Bois Frehaut and estab- 
lished our line along the northern boundary and 
also the eastern boundary of that wood (it was 
much farther north than the northern boundary 
of Bois Voivrotte) it became impracticable for 
the enemy to send or keep troops in Bois Voi- 
vrotte unless he drove my Battalion from Bois 
Frehaut. He was still at liberty, however, to 
rain artillery fire upon it. But here it is officially 
from the commander of the 2nd Bn. 366th Inf. 
On page 151, Brigade report: "3:05 p. m. 
Telephone message from C. O. 2nd Bn. 366th 
Inf. that he had withdrawn his lines to southern 
edge of Bois Voivrotte because of heavy enemy 
shelling — high explosives and gas in woods." 
This final cessation of their efforts to hold Bois 
Voivrotte and withdrawal of their lines to the 
southern edge of it was one reason for the next 
entry on same page : "3 :55 p. m. Orders re- 
ceived from Commanding General 92nd Divi- 
sion not to launch attack as planned for 5 p. m., 
but to consolidate positions gained, holding 



98 APPENDIX 

them at all costs against possible counter at- 
tacks." For how could the other units that 
were supposed to attack through the units sup- 
posed to be holding Bois Voivrotte advance be- 
yond its northern boundary when as a matter 
of fact according to the Battalion C. O. — di- 
rectly in command — ^they were only holding the 
southern boundary. Obviously it was necessary 
to recapture Bois Voivrotte and hold it — all of 
it, before they could consider capturing any- 
thing beyond, or north of it. 

The other reason for the calling off by the 
Division Commander of the attack scheduled to 
be launched from the northern boundaries of 
Bois Frehaut and Bois Voivrotte at 5 p. m., 
on the 10th, was equally obvious. For how 
could the units scheduled to attack through the 
2nd Battalion of the 365th then holding the 
northern boundary of Bois Frehaut, be ex- 
pected to advance beyond us when they had 
never succeeded, due to enemy artillery fire, in 
reaching even the southern boundary of Bois 
Frehaut. 

At the time when the attack beyond Bois 
Voivrotte was almost due to be launched by 



APPENDIX 99 

other units of the 366th they were not holding 
Bois Voivrotte but had withdrawn their hne to 
the southern edge and were holding what pre- 
viously had been no-man's land- — ^very much 
narrower there than in front of Ferme de Belle 
Aire. As can readily be seen, this failure to 
hold, on their part, left me in a precarious 
condition should the enemy in force attempt to 
envelop us through Bois Voivrotte. This was 
largely the cause for the order to the artillery 
mentioned in the Division Report, page 160: 
"11 Nov. 3:59 — Artillery directed to put down 
barrage on northern edge of Bois Voivrotte, 
this point not being occupied by our troops." 
I think, bearing in mind General Pershing's 
brief remarks relative to attacks on the 11th 
of November, that this covers them all, includ- 
ing troops of the 7th Division attacking 
through the C. R. adjoining the 367th on the 
left. 

What does all this mean? It means that of 
all the battalions concerned or engaged in at- 
tacking towa(rd Metz during the drive that 
started the morning of November 10th, the only 
battalion that accomplished its mission, or in 



100 APPENDIX 

other words, the only one that was able to carry 
out its orders — the only one that captured and 
held anything, was the 2nd Battalion of the 
365th Infantry. Had this battalion not suc- 
ceeded in capturing and holding Bois Frehaut, 
in fact had it not succeeded in all of its various 
missions at all times, and had its companies, 
as companies, not succeeded in all their various 
missions, I would not be publishing any book 
about it at all, let alone praising the battalion as 
I have. 

But let us see some more quotations from 
things included in Dr. Scott's History. Ralph 
W. Tyler, the colored war correspondent, writ- 
ing, necessarily from hearsay mostly, at a time 
when the confusion and din of battle made it 
impossible to foresee results, could, however, 
see the landscape in general and he knew who 
was attacking and later who was holding Bois 
Frehaut. He also visited Bois Frehaut after 
the armistice, so among other things he wrote, 

page 289 : " and so the 2nd Battalion went 

into action with but one white officer, the Ma- 
jor. No unit in the advance had a more diffi- 
cult position to take and hold than the position 



APPENDIX 101 

assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 365th. 
The Bois Frehaut was a network of barbed- 
wire entanglements, and the big guns in Metz 
had nothing to do but sweep the woods with a 
murderous fire, which they did most effectively. 
French and Senegalese in turn had failed to 
hold these woods, for it was worse than a hell — 
it had become the sepulchre of hundreds. I 
(Ralph W. Tyler) was over and through these 
woods; I saw the mass of barbed-wire entan- 
glements; I saw the nests in the trees 
in which Germans had camouflaged machine 
guns that rained a fire upon the Allied 
troops. 

"It is impossible to describe this scene of car- 
nage. The order to the colored men of the 
365th was to "take and hold" although it was 
believed, almost to a certainty, that they could 
not hold it, even if they did take it. But they 
did take and hold it, and these men of the 2nd 
Battalion, with Spartan-like courage; with an 
endurance unbehevable, would be holding the 
position at this writing had not the armistice 
been signed or had they not received orders to 
retire." 



102 APPENDIX 

He also says that "the Major commanding 
stated to me that the world had never produced 
gamer fighters than the colored men who made 
up his battalion of the 365th infantry." But 
his next three paragraphs as quoted in "Scott's 
History" are mostly erroneous as to previous 
conditions. The records will show (the neces- 
sary records are not in that book), but every 
one who was in the 365th Infantry and most 
every one in the Division knows that the 2nd 
Bn. 365th held the front line battalion sector 
east of the Moselle called C. B. Musson con- 
tinuously for thirty-one days, then went back, 
occupied the second line of defense for three 
days (during which time various units marched 
up and engaged the enemy to ascertain his 
strength) , returned to Pont-a-Mousson on the 
9th and attacked on the morning of the 10th. 
During this time the 1st and 3rd Battalions 
took turns holding the C. R. on our right — 
C. R. Les Menils. I had not read Dr. Scott's 
book at the time I made my lecture. During 
the Division's occupancy of the St. Die sector 
this battalion held a front line sector continu- 
ously. In the Argonne it did road work as 



APPENDIX lOS 

close to the advanced line as any of the bat- 
talions. The Division was praised by General 
Pershing for its work in facilitating traffic 
during the Argonne Meuse drive, that is, the 
early part of that drive. Elements of the 368th 
Infantry were in the attacking line for a short 
time. Early in October the entire Division was 
moved out of the Argonne-Meuse section and 
to the Marbache sector. No battalion of the 
368th Infantr}^ ever held a front line position 
in the Marbache sector. 

To show you how Mr. Tyler was impressed 
with Bois Frehaut I will quote from his writings 
again. Page 286, Dr. Scott's book: "The 
armistice stopped their advance into Berlin, but 
they did reach the nearest point to the German 
city of Metz in what was designed as a victori- 
ous march to Berlin, and the valor they dis- 
played, their courageous, heroic fighting all 
along that advance, won for our men in the 
92nd Division high praise from superior offi- 
cers, including the corps and division com- 
manders, for they never wavered an instant, 
not even in that awful hell, the Frehaut Woods, 
upon which the big guns of Metz constantly 



104 APPENDIX 

played, which the Senegalese were unable to 
hold, but which our colored soldiers from Amer- 
ica did take and did hold, until the signal came 
announcing the cessation of hostilities." 

I shall now give a few more extracts from 
the Brigade Commander's report. On page 
150, same book: "At 10 a. m. (Nov. 10th) a 
runner message was received from the Com- 
manding Officer, 2nd Bn., 365th Inf., to the 
effect that they were being heavily shelled in 
the Bois Frehaut by enemy artillery, and re- 
questing counter battery fire ; it was also stated 
that their advance had almost reached the 
northern edge of Bois Frehaut. Heavy artil- 
lery was asked to counter-fire on enemy artil- 
lery, which they promptly did." I sent this 
message about 9 o'clock. 

On page 151, Brigade report: "At 11:15 
a. m. a message from the C. O. 2nd Bn. 365th 
Inf. to the effect that Bois Frehaut was com- 
pletely occupied, that Boches were shelling 
woods with gas and high explosives, and re- 
questing counter battery fire." This was the 
message spoken of in the lecture that I sent 
at 10 o'clock by pigeon to Division Head- 



APPENDIX 105 

quarters. It was read there and relayed to 
Brigade Headquarters (situated in another 
village). 

Page 152, Brigade report: "Our advance 
was for a depth of about three and one-half 
kilometers. When this Brigade took over the 
sector just east of the Moselle river there was a 
deep re-entrant next to the river, due to the 
St. Mihiel drive which advanced the line several 
kilometers on the west bank of the Moselle 
river, while the line on the east bank remained 
in place." 

The reason it "remained in place" was that 
neither French, Americans nor Senegalese 
troops had suceeded in getting into it (Bois 
Frehaut) very far — let alone taking and hold- 
ing it. 

Page 153, Brigade report: "Full use was 
made of auxiliary arms, machine guns, 37 milli- 
meter guns, Stokes mortars and rifle grenades. 
All of these weapons, except Stokes mortars 
were brought into play in the heavy fighting in 
the Bois Frehaut to combat enemy machine 
gun nests. 37 mm. guns were pushed well to 
the front when direct fire at enemy machine 



106 APPENDIX 

gun positions could be obtained. It was to the 
extensive use of these weapons that the rapid 
advance through Bois Frehaut was due. Ma- 
chine guns were used frequently to cover the 
flanks of the attacking infantry. They aided 
materially in protecting the N. E. corner of 
the Bois Frehaut from an enemy counter attack 
from Bouxieres. Trench mortars were placed 
in position after the Frehaut woods were taken, 
to cover the new front." 

Page 154, Brigade report; "The lines held by 
the Germans were unusually strong, being the 
result of four years of stabilization in that sec- 
tor. Their artillery was most active, as un- 
questionably during these years they had reg- 
istered on every point of importance in the sec- 
tor. Furthermore, their positions were the first 
line of defense of Metz. The troops occupying 
them were young, efficient men and not old 
soldiers from a rest sector." 

I wish to state here that our Division artillery 
rendered excellent service. This is especially 
true when we consider that it had been in the 
line only a few days. 

But a very apparent inconsistency appears in 



APPENDIX 107 

the Brigade report and is embodied in the Di- 
vision report, page 161 : "The attack was re- 
newed on the morning of the 11th, the hnes 
being advanced to the northern edge of the Bois 
Frehaut a distance of three and one-half km. 
from an original line." The Division report 
says, as you notice, that the line was advanced 
on the 11th to the northern edge of Bois Fre- 
haut, the Division commander well knowing 
that the line never was advanced beyond the 
northern edge of Bois Frehaut, for the next 
paragraph refers to the final battle line, which 
the co-ordinates show was the northern edge of 
Bois Frehaut, but the Brigade report upon 
which this part of the Division report is based 
by a Division commander who took command 
just after the armistice says, page 152: "The 
attack on the morning of Nov. 10, by units of 
the Brigade wiped out this re-entrant by ad- 
vancing our hnes on the east bank of the Mo- 
selle river a distance of two and one-quarter 
km. The advance thus made was held against 
heavy artillery and machine gun fire and high 
concentration of gas. The attack was renewed 
on the morning of Nov. 11, lines being advanced 



108 APPENDIX 

a distance of three and one-quarter km. an 
original line." 

That would indicate an advance of one km. 
on Nov. 11th. I don't care to discuss that fur- 
ther than to say that it is incorrect. The final 
battle line shows as the northern edge of Bois 
Frehaut. The Division report says, "the at- 
tack was renewed on the morning of the 11th 
the lines being advanced to the northern edge of 
Bois Frehaut, a distance of three and one-half 
km. from an original line." Since, as clearly 
shown, the line was never advanced beyond the 
northern edge of Bois Frehaut where was that 
advance made? Speaking of this mysterious 
advance of the 11th the Brigade report says, 
"Our liason with troops west of the river was 
thereby greatly improved," indicating that the 
said unexplainable and vague "advance" was 
near the river — hence on my front. 

General Pershing says that "examination of 
the records shows that the 2nd Battalion did 
take the Bois Frehaut on November 10th and 
that this battalion held this position until the 
armistice went into effect." How could he say 
that we took the Bois Frehaut on Nov. 10th if 



APPENDIX 109 

there was a km. (which is almost a mile) re- 
maining of it to be taken on Nov. 11th? Of 
the advance of the 11th he says, "advanced a 
short distance but had retired to cover." 

This same Brigade report shows that at 10 
a. m., Nov. 10th, a message was received show- 
ing that the 2nd Bn. 365th Inf. had almost 
reached the northern edge of Bois Frehaut, and 
that at 11 :15, Nov. 10th a message was received 
showing the Bois Frehaut was completely occu- 
pied. The quotation above from the same re- 
port says that the re-entrant was wiped out by 
advancing our lines on the east bank of the Mo- 
selle on November 10th and that the advance 
thus made was held against heavy artillery and 
machine gun fire, etc. The Brigade order for 
the attack on November 11th— the order from 
which Gen. Pershing quoted, plainly shows that 
that attack was to be launched from the north- 
ern edge of Bois Frehaut — our front line. 

It is too bad to have to spend time correcting 
such a discrepancy as that, but that's the way it 
reads in Dr. Scott's book and I have no reason 
to think that the Brigade and Division reports 
are erroneously printed in that book. It might 



110 APPENDIX 

give a wrong impression to a casual reader. 
Some might not take the trouble to see that no 
advance was made and held on the 11th of No- 
vember. The line was advanced to the northern 
edge of Bois Frehaut on November 10th and 
never receded so much as one foot for a single 
instant. Few enough colored battalions had the 
opportunity to prove their true worth. I do not 
propose to leave a single cloud on the record of 
the glorious success and achievements of one 
colored battalion. This does not in the least 
detract from the glory of other units but will 
add greatly to the prestige and standing of col- 
ored soldiers as a whole. 

In another place the report of the general 
commanding our Brigade says, page 154, Dr. 
Scott's book: "The commanding officers of 
units making the attack, and also of the artil- 
lery, were constantly stating that they were 
hurried into these movements without proper 
preparation. Had they been familiar with such 
operations, the time allowed would have been 
sufficient." The Major General, commanding 
the 92nd Division who made the Division re- 
port on the operations of November 10th and 



APPENDIX 111 

11th says, page 162, same book: "The attack 
was made on very brief preparation, too brief 
in view of the strength of the enemy positions, 
which were very strongly held." 

I told in the lecture what the Second Bat- 
talion of the Three Hundred and Sixth-fifth 
Infantry had undergone in the Marbache Sec- 
tor and how we worked all of the night pre- 
ceding the attack on things that had to he done 
regardless of familiarity with anything. I do 
not remember that I made any complaints 
about the shortness of time for preparation. 
Possibly I did, for I was at all times doing any- 
thing and everything to insure success against 
the enemy. But whether the time was too short 
or too long I again call your attention to the 
fact that this battalion accomplished its mis- 
sion, fully, completely, magnificently, under 
the guns of Metz. 

Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Deitsch, a veteran 
of the Regular Army, who was my immediate 
superior and was in command of our Regiment 
during that drive, and who, before coming to 
our Regiment, had served in other Divisions in 
the battle line, saidin a letter to me: "The 



112 APPENDIX 

handling of your battalion during the ninth, 
tenth and morning of November eleventh, 1918, 
(which lead to the capture of Bois Frehaut) 
could not, I believe, have been conducted any 
better. As you well know the capture of 
this position is credited to you and your bat- 
talion." 

On page 154, same book, the Brigade report, 
speaking of the work of the Brigade as a whole, 
says: "There is no doubt that some details of 
the operation were not carried out as well as 
might have been done by more experienced 
troops. These were the results of mistaken 
judgment due to lack of experience rather than 
to lack of offensive spirit." 

This is true of the Brigade as a whole and 
the report from which it is copied is a very 
general statement of the work of the entire 
Brigade in that series of operations. I say and 
have shown and am ready to prove more ex- 
haustively if necessary that the above statement 
does not concern one of the six infantry bat- 
talions of that Brigade, namely, the Second 
Battalion, Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth. 

Suppose I should admit or should say that 



APPENDIX 113 

the battalion that captured this seemingly im- 
pregnable position and held it continuously 
under the defenses of Metz, was only a very 
mediocre battalion, or suppose I should admit 
or should say, "Oh, yes, the men were anxious 
enough and after they got going fought sav- 
agely with razors or knives or bayonets, but 
the colored officers had no judgment and could 
not handle their men and it was a pretty poor 
battalion." What then could be said, what 
would have to be said of the other units of the 
Ninety-second Division and of units engaged 
of the Seventh Division that failed utterly to 
accomplish their missions during the same at- 
tack? 

The truth is that those other battalions and 
units that failed to advance and hold against 
the world's strongest position — Metz — were 
excellent troops and in many instances did 
most heroic work. They were fully equal on 
the average to battalions and units of the fore- 
most American Divisions. The truth is equally 
clear to every one who knows or wants to know 
that the Second Battahon of the Three Hun- 
dred and Sixty-fifth Infantry was a most ^.r- 



114 APPENDIX 

ceptional, a most wonderful battalion, fully 
equal in all respects to the very finest battalions 
in the American Army or any army that fought 
in the Great World War. I challenge any one 
to disprove this statement. 

They were wonderful fighters with the trench 
knife and bayonet, but they were equally effi- 
cient and energetic with all other infantry arms. 
Take the other extreme from fighting — paper 
work. The paper work that had to be done in 
a company of our army was staggering. It 
required ceaseless work and absolute accuracy. 
The companies of this battalion were unsur- 
passed. "H" Company, for instance, as is well 
known, did and turned in paper work that was 
practically perfect at all times. Then there 
was march or road discipline. Some of the 
marches made were very trying. As an exam- 
ple, the Second Battalion of the Three Hun- 
dred and Sixty-fifth Infantry marched from 
Camp d'ltalien in the Argonne Forest to Camp 
Cabaud north east of Les Isilett during the 
night, through mud and through the confusion 
and blockade of traffic you have all heard about, 
just preceding the Argonne Offensive, and ar- 



APPENDIX 115 

rived with every man who started. Not one 
straggler, I furnished signed certificates be- 
fore it could be beheved by my superiors. I 
have already referred to the very significant 
fact that no officers were ever placed under 
arrest or sent before efficiency boards. Every 
statement I have made and every inference I 
have drawn is based on a personal knowledge of 
facts. 

My efforts to make that Battalion a real 
success were due solely to the fact that it was 
an American Battalion engaged in the fight 
against our Nation's enemies. My enlisted men 
were colored and they wore the American uni- 
form. My Officers were colored and they were 
commissioned, not by me, but by the United 
States Government. If you are colored or if 
perchance you are white and care to do some 
thinking about me and about my Battalion 
and about many things in general, read on 
pages 433 and 438 of the book I have been 
referring to. By the way, the Battalion Com- 
mander there referred to reheved me (he was 
then a Lieutenant Colonel) of the command of 
the Regiment (Three Hundred and Sixty- 



116 APPENDIX 

fifth Infantry) the second day after the Arm- 
istice took effect. 

It is my idea of justice that the race- — ^name- 
ly the American Negro — that produced men 
who served their country so loyally, so bravely, 
so capably both as officers and as enhsted men 
under my command, should know the truth 
about my battalion. It would matter little 
whether the outfit were a division, a brigade 
or a battalion. It happens to have been a bat- 
talion. And it matters little what colored bat- 
talion it was, but it does matter a great deal 
and mean a great deal to Colored Americans 
that one of the very finest and greatest bat- 
talions in the American Army and in the world 
was an American colored battalion. 

If what I have said about my Colored Bat- 
talion shall in any way aid, or shall inspire and 
stimulate Colored Americans in their struggle 
for advancement and for the attainment of 
Righteousness that "Exalteth a nation," I 
shall be gratified. 

The following is the testimonial I referred 
to. It substantiates some things spoken of in 
the lecture. 



APPENDIX 117 



Headquarters 365th Infantry. 

Major Warner A. Ross, 365th Infantry, 
commander of the 2nd Battalion, while leading 
his battalion and part of the First Battalion 
into action in the "Bois Frehaut" on the east 
bank of the Moselle River north of Pont-a- 
Musson and under the guns of Metz, on the 
morning of November 10th, 1918, with Brigade 
orders to capture and hold this strong German 
position, displayed most exceptional bravery, 
coolness and efficiency under heavy fire. He 
personally led his forces and established his 
first waves in their firing position in no-man's 
land immediately in front of the enemy's ob- 
servers, machine gunners and snipers. He 
then, after encouraging his men through enemy 
wire, under heavy barrage established his Post 
of Command in the edge of the "Bois Frehaut" 
in what just before was enemy territory. This 
Post of Command was a shell hole with no 
protection from artillery fire and was estab- 
lished in this place so that runners coming back 
from platoons and companies could follow the 



118 APPENDIX 

edge of the wood and easily find him. This 
he maintained as his P. C. until 10:30 o'clock 
on the morning of the 11th, when news of the 
Armistice reached him. 

Major Ross refused to move his Headquar- 
ters despite the fact that a hostile plane had 
located it and that others abandoned it. Shrap- 
nel burst over it and high explosive shells tore 
great holes all around it. The sides were caved 
in and he was once almost completely buried. 
During the night it became filled with mustard 
gas. He ordered lime sprinkled in it and a fire 
built and remained. By moving to a less ex- 
posed position or to a dugout his liaison would 
have been impaired. It was excellent liaison 
that enabled him to send in reinforcements to 
meet counter attacks and flank movements at- 
tempted by the enemy. 

The bravery of Major Ross and his indiffer- 
ence to personal safety in his determination to 
win this battle are considered worthy of special 
recognition. Such conduct is far in excess of 
the ordinary line of duty of a Battalion Com- 
mander. The "Bois Fl-ehaut/' "BeUe Aire 
Ferme," "Ferme de Pence" and "Bois de la 



APPENDIX 119 

tete d'Or" were taken from the enemy and the 
battle hne changed by this victory. 
Witnesses (Signed) : 

Edward B. Simmons, 
Major, Medical Corps, Regimental Surgeon, 

F. E. SWEITZER, 

Captain, SQ5th Inf., Regtl. Adjutant, 

T. C. Hopkins, 
Captain, S65th Inf., Regtl, Intelligence Officer, 

Walter R. Sanders, 
Captain, S65th Inf,, Second in Command at 
that time, 

Wm. W. Green, 
Captain, S65th Inf,, Comdg, Co, H, S65th Inf, 

John F. Pritchard, 
1st Lieut, S65th Inf,, Adjutant, 2nd Bn. 

Garrett M. Lewis, 
1st Lieut,, S65th Inf,, Comdg, Reserve Co. at 
that time, 

U. J. Robinson, 
1st Lieut,, S65th Inf,, Chaplain. 

The End 



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